On Monday, the Iranian military announced that it had ceased missile attacks on Israel, which had started the day before. However, they hinted at a possible continuation of bombings, including targeting American oil facilities, if necessary.
Relations between Iran and the United States have been somewhat stable since April. That’s when President Trump decided to suspend Operation Epic Fury to encourage dialogue aimed at resolving Iran’s nuclear issues and promoting lasting peace. This indefinite ceasefire was extended in late May, yet it doesn’t stop Iran’s hindrance of commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz or the U.S.’s naval blockade of Iranian ships. There’s also speculation about whether the ceasefire affects ongoing conflicts between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Iran claimed on Sunday that it fired several ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for IDF actions against Hezbollah in Beirut. The IDF, on the other hand, targeted Hezbollah facilities following rocket fire directed at Israeli civilians near the Lebanese border. According to the IDF, the missile assault by Iran did not result in substantial damage, as the missiles were intercepted, and others fell harmlessly.
After this exchange, President Trump urged all parties to maintain the ceasefire and advised Israel against responding to the Iranian missiles. He expressed to reporters, “I’ll call Prime Minister Netanyahu and recommend that he refrain from retaliating.”
“We’re very close to a solid agreement with Iran. It’s going to be beneficial. We certainly don’t want it to unravel because of the current situation,” he said.
As of now, missile attacks have not resumed. Nonetheless, Iranian military officials are using propaganda to threaten future assaults while asserting a temporary halt to hostilities. Pro-Iranian Lebanese media reported that Iranian military headquarters stated that attacks have been “paused for now.”
A military spokesperson commented, “In response to the actions of the brutal Zionist regime in southern Lebanon, supported by American forces, Iran’s powerful military has delivered a significant counter-response in defense of the oppressed Lebanese people.” Although they claimed to have halted operations, there was an underlying threat of “much harsher actions” if Israel continued its aggression toward Hezbollah.
Further reports indicate that Iranian military officials have officially announced a “cessation” of hostilities, though threats against Israel and the U.S. lingered. Iranian leaders have suggested that Washington played a role in the weekend’s violence, even as Trump publicly urged Israel to halt its counteractions.
“If the hostility continues, both the U.S. and Israel will face a more robust reaction,” a spokesperson from Khatam al-Anbiya was quoted as saying on state television.
Additionally, a source close to the Iranian regime was reported by Tasnim, suggesting that Iran is prepared to prolong the conflict if necessary, placing blame on the United States for the recent events.
“The U.S. cannot escape its share of the blame for Israel’s actions,” the anonymous voice stated. “They will face consequences. Any effort to separate the Israeli and U.S. fronts is mere deception. Iran won’t allow this,” the source added.
Another Iranian media outlet, Fars News Agency, highlighted that Tehran is readying itself for potential strikes on U.S. assets, including oil facilities, as a response to Israel’s operations. According to Fars, should there be any attack on its energy infrastructure, Iran will target U.S. and Israeli facilities in the region.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a key official in Iran’s regime, stated this weekend on Twitter that all American “assets” are legitimate targets for Iran. He asserted, “The naval blockade against Iran and the recent actions by the American-Zionist regime make them fair game.” This is notable given Trump’s public call for restraint from Israel.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that the public disagreements between Israel and the U.S. are misleading. Spokesman Esmail Baghai insisted on Monday that Israeli military actions without American backing are “impossible.”
Baghai concluded, “It’s clear that the U.S. is responsible for the aggression of the Zionist regime and will bear the consequences of any escalation.”
