President Donald Trump sharply criticized both Israel and Iran over their conduct following the newly announced ceasefire deal.
Trump’s announcement that a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Iran would be in effect by June 25 followed a brutal 12‑day conflict that began on June 13, when Israel struck more than a dozen Iranian military and nuclear targets. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israeli cities, many intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system. Tensions escalated further when the United States carried out its own military action on June 22, launching B‑2 stealth bombers and Tomahawk cruise missiles against three key Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—in an operation reportedly named “Operation Midnight Hammer.” This marked the first direct U.S. military engagement in the conflict.
Despite these strikes, Trump emphasized that the U.S. did not condone unrestrained escalation, reportedly even halting a planned Israeli operation targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader. However, he also told Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to “keep going” as Iran’s nuclear advances continued. In the early hours of June 24, Israel and Iran issued conflicting statements: Israel confirmed the U.S.-brokered ceasefire had taken effect, while Iran asserted they would stop hostilities only if Israel halted strikes first. Later that day, Trump accused both sides of violating the ceasefire and urged Israel to recall its pilots.