Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Iran announced Monday that it has suspended its military operations against Israel, signaling a potential opening for renewed diplomacy after the most serious flare-up between the two countries since a fragile ceasefire took effect earlier this year.
The announcement came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly called on both sides to halt their attacks, warning that continued military escalation could undermine ongoing efforts to reach a broader agreement aimed at ending months of regional instability.
In a statement carried by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the Iranian Armed Forces said military operations had been halted but stressed that the decision should not be interpreted as a retreat. Tehran warned that any new Israeli strikes including military actions in southern Lebanon, could trigger a much harsher response.
“The powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran delivered a painful response to this regime in support of the oppressed Lebanese people,” the statement said. It added that any continuation of what it described as hostile actions would be met with “more severe and crushing measures than before.”
Trump Presses for Calm
The Iranian announcement followed a series of messages from President Trump, who has intensified public calls for de-escalation after Israel and Iran exchanged fire for the first time since the ceasefire was established two months ago.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared that both countries were seeking an immediate halt to hostilities and suggested that negotiations remained active behind the scenes.
“Final negotiations regarding peace are ongoing,” Trump wrote, while warning that progress could still be derailed by what he described as “ignorance or stupidity.”
In a separate post earlier in the day, the U.S. president issued a direct appeal to both sides, stating: “Israel and Iran must immediately stop shooting.”
Trump has repeatedly suggested in recent weeks that a framework for ending the conflict could be within reach, although no formal agreement has yet emerged.
Israel Rejects New Security Reality
Despite Iran’s announcement, Israeli officials signaled there would be no change in their military posture toward Iranian-backed groups operating in neighboring countries.
According to a message circulated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office to cabinet ministers, Israel will not accept what it views as an Iranian attempt to establish a new deterrence equation linking Israeli operations in Lebanon to direct retaliation from Tehran.
Israeli officials have argued that military action against Hezbollah positions and infrastructure remains essential to national security and will continue regardless of Iranian threats.
“We will continue operating throughout Lebanon whenever necessary to remove the terrorist threat posed by Hezbollah against our citizens,” the statement said.
The remarks highlight the central challenge facing diplomats: while Iran is demanding limits on Israeli military operations in Lebanon, Israel insists it will maintain freedom of action against Hezbollah, Tehran’s most powerful regional ally.
Fragile Truce Faces New Test
The exchange of threats comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the region.
Although large-scale fighting subsided after the ceasefire reached in April, tensions never fully disappeared. Sporadic strikes, military deployments and political confrontations have kept the possibility of renewed conflict alive.
Monday’s developments underscored how quickly the situation can deteriorate. A fresh exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran raised fears that the region could once again slide toward a broader war involving multiple fronts, including Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
Diplomatic efforts led by the United States and regional mediators are now focused on preventing the latest crisis from spiraling further and transforming the fragile truce into a more durable agreement.
For now, Iran’s decision to halt military operations has offered a temporary opening for diplomacy. Whether that pause develops into a lasting ceasefire or merely precedes another round of confrontation may depend on decisions taken in Tehran, Jerusalem and Washington over the coming days.
