DUBAI/JERUSALEM, June 8 (Reuters) — Iran and Israel have announced a temporary halt to direct strikes against each other following an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump urging both sides to “stop shooting,” although Tehran warned it could resume operations if Israeli military actions in Lebanon continue.
The latest exchange marked the most direct confrontation between the two countries since an April ceasefire, raising concerns that ongoing hostilities could derail diplomatic efforts led by Washington to end a wider regional conflict.
Financial markets reacted swiftly to the escalation. Oil prices, which had surged by as much as five percent during the exchanges, later eased after Iran’s military indicated that its initial wave of strikes had concluded. The U.S. dollar also retreated from recent highs.
A source briefed on the situation said Israel had also decided to pause its strikes on Iranian targets. The development followed a cycle of attacks in which Israel struck Iranian facilities after Tehran launched missile fire toward Israeli territory on Sunday night.
Iran said its actions were in response to Israeli strikes on Iran-backed Hezbollah positions on the outskirts of Beirut. Israel, in turn, said it targeted a petrochemical facility in southwestern Iran that it described as linked to ballistic missile production. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it carried out retaliatory strikes on an Israeli industrial site in Haifa.
Iran’s military headquarters described its response as “painful,” adding that operations had been halted for now but warning that further escalation would follow if attacks continued, including in southern Lebanon.
The flare-up has complicated efforts by President Trump to broker a broader agreement with Tehran and Israel. In social media posts, Trump said both sides supported an “immediate ceasefire” and that final negotiations on a peace framework were ongoing, while warning that enforcement measures against Iran would remain in place until a deal is reached.
Israeli and Iranian officials have both signaled readiness to continue military operations if necessary. An Israeli military official said strikes on Iranian air defense systems and industrial sites would continue “as long as it takes,” while Iranian officials said they were prepared for prolonged confrontation and potential expansion of attacks against U.S. interests in the region.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran was exchanging messages with Washington under conditions of “extreme suspicion,” accusing Israel of attempting to undermine diplomatic efforts through continued operations in Lebanon.
Explosions were reported in Tehran on Monday, with Iranian air defenses reportedly intercepting a drone over the capital. No casualties or significant damage were immediately confirmed.
In Yemen, the Iran-aligned Houthi movement said it would escalate actions in the Red Sea and claimed responsibility for firing missiles toward Israel, although the group has largely remained on the periphery of the broader conflict.
Israeli officials said Iran had launched nearly 30 ballistic missiles since Sunday evening, with additional missiles reportedly fired by Houthi forces. Israel’s emergency services reported no casualties from the latest missile attacks.
The conflict has also impacted energy and maritime security concerns. Tehran continues to exert pressure in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route, while Washington maintains sanctions and restrictions on Iranian ports.
Lebanon remains a parallel flashpoint, with Israel continuing military operations against Hezbollah and diplomatic discussions expected to resume in Washington, according to the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon.
Analysts warn that while the latest pause in strikes may temporarily reduce immediate escalation risks, underlying tensions between Iran, Israel, and allied regional actors remain unresolved.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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