Israel launched airstrikes on targets in central and western Iran early Monday, escalating tensions in the Middle East despite calls from U.S. President Donald Trump for restraint. The strikes followed an Iranian missile attack on Israel, marking the first direct exchange between the two countries since an April ceasefire temporarily halted hostilities.
Explosions were reported in several Iranian cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Karaj and Tabriz, while Iranian authorities shut down airspace around Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport following the attacks. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Israel used air-launched ballistic missiles during the operation.
The latest escalation came after Iran launched ballistic missiles toward northern Israel in response to Israeli strikes in Beirut. Israeli authorities said most of the missiles were intercepted or landed in open areas.
Before the Israeli retaliation, Trump reportedly held a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to delay any response and allow diplomatic efforts with Tehran to continue. Trump later suggested he expected Israel to hold off on immediate military action as negotiations with Iran remained ongoing.
The White House had not publicly commented on whether the strikes were coordinated with Washington.
The renewed exchange has raised fears of a broader regional conflict. Reports indicated that missile alert sirens were activated near a Saudi airbase hosting U.S. forces, while Israel said it was also responding to a missile launched from Yemen by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Iranian officials accused the United States of supporting Israel’s earlier strikes in Beirut, with senior figures warning that both American and Israeli interests could become targets if hostilities continue.
The escalating conflict has also rattled global markets. Oil prices surged sharply, with Brent crude rising above $96 per barrel amid concerns that renewed fighting could disrupt energy supplies and undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts in the region.
The developments have further complicated efforts to secure a lasting agreement between Washington and Tehran, with both sides continuing to exchange warnings while insisting negotiations remain possible.
