Israel “refrained” from more attacks on Iran on Tuesday after a phone conversation between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office.
The decision came just hours after Trump had strongly criticized both Israel and Iran for not sticking to a ceasefire he had declared late on Monday. However, not long after, Trump posted online that the ceasefire was finally being observed.
In the statement released by Netanyahu’s office, it was noted, “Following President Trump’s conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israel refrained from further strikes.” This suggests that the Israeli government paused its planned military response, possibly in light of Trump’s warning or request.
While the exact details of the conversation between the two leaders were not made public, sources close to the matter say that Trump urged restraint and warned that further military action could worsen the already tense situation in the region.
Netanyahu’s office did not confirm whether future strikes were still on the table, only noting that no additional actions were taken after the call.
The ceasefire, which Trump announced on Monday night, came after weeks of rising tensions between Iran and Israel. Both countries have traded accusations of aggression, and military exchanges have taken place across borders and through proxies.
Trump’s announcement of a truce was met with skepticism by some officials, especially after clashes reportedly continued even after the declaration.
Trump had posted on social media that “both sides need to respect the ceasefire immediately,” and later confirmed that the situation had calmed down.
