Israel carried out fresh strikes on military targets in western and central Iran on Monday, defying an apparent request from US President Donald Trump to refrain from further attacks as efforts to broker peace continue.
The strikes came hours after Trump publicly stated that new Israeli and Iranian actions would not derail ongoing US-Iran peace talks. He emphasised that he, not Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was in control of the situation.
“I call the shots. I call all the shots. He (Netanyahu) doesn’t call the shots,” Trump told the Financial Times.
The latest escalation follows Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday — the first such attacks since the US announced a truce plan for Lebanon. Iran responded with a barrage of missiles targeting Israeli sites, which Israeli defence systems largely intercepted.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard confirmed the Israeli attacks on military targets using air-launched ballistic missiles and vowed retaliation, including threats against oil and gas infrastructure in Gulf states.
Oil Prices Surge
The renewed hostilities pushed oil prices up more than 3% in early trading on Monday, with benchmark Brent crude rising above $96 per barrel amid fears of prolonged disruption to energy supplies.
The conflict, which began as a US-Israeli campaign against Iran, has been in a fragile stalemate since early April. While Washington and Tehran have engaged in talks to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, both sides have continued limited strikes. Hezbollah has also maintained attacks on Israel in solidarity with Iran.
Trump, speaking from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, held a phone conversation with Netanyahu on Sunday lasting nearly 30 minutes. According to US officials, Trump urged the Israeli leader to hold off on further strikes to allow space for a potential deal.
Lebanon and Broader Ceasefire Efforts
The situation in Lebanon remains deeply intertwined with the wider conflict. Israel has continued its military campaign against Hezbollah despite US efforts to secure a ceasefire. Hezbollah has refused to disarm or halt its attacks unless Israel fully withdraws from Lebanese territory.
Trump has repeatedly expressed optimism about reaching a deal with Iran that would prevent it from developing nuclear weapons, while Tehran is demanding the lifting of sanctions and recognition of its influence in the region.
The latest developments have raised concerns about the stability of ongoing diplomatic efforts and the risk of a broader regional war that could severely impact global energy markets and international security.
