Topline
Iran and Israel exchanged strikes starting late on Sunday, marking the biggest escalation between the two countries since the Iran War ceasefire went into effect in April, even as President Donald Trump said he calls “all the shots” with regards to the conflict and said he would ask Netanyahu not to respond to Tehran’s latest salvo.
Key Facts
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps launched a barrage of missiles at Israel late on Sunday and told state media that this was done in response to Israel’s strikes on Lebanon.
In its statement, the IRGC said it would “not tolerate any violation of the ceasefire or aggression against Lebanon,” and the attacks are both a response and a “warning.”
A few hours later, the Israeli Defense Forces said its aircraft had struck Iranian military targets in “western and central Iran,” with blasts being reported in Tehran.
As a result of the strikes, Iran said it has closed the Western part of the country’s airspace—including Tehran’s International airport, which was shut for all flights
What Did Trump Say About The Escalation?
Shortly after Iran launched its first salvo, Trump was asked about Israel’s potential response by Fox News’ Trey Yingst and Axios’ Barak Ravid. Yingst said Trump told him that the Iranian attack would “certainly not…help negotiations.” He added, “What I would suggest to Iran: You’ve shot your missiles, that’s enough, get back to the table and make a deal.” Trump also told Yingst that he believed a deal with Iran was close to completion, although the president and his administration have talked about an imminent deal for weeks now. The president also said he was “not happy” about Israel’s latest strikes on Lebanon after a ceasefire was brokered last week. Trump told Axios that he will call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “right now and tell him not to retaliate. Each of them had their fun. Israel had its strike, and Iran had its strike. We don’t need another one.” The outlet later reported that the two leaders spoke over the phone, during which Trump urged Netanyahu not to respond to the attacks.
What Did Trump Say About Netanyahu And A Peace Deal?
In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump said the Israeli Prime Minister will have no choice but to accept any deal the U.S. agrees to with Iran. “I call the shots. I call all the shots. He doesn’t call the shots,” Trump said before adding that Netanyahu “won’t have any choice,” on the matter. Trump also insisted that his planned peace deal remained on track and the latest exchange between Iran and Israel won’t change that. “The deal may make it on its own merit, or not, but this will not have any effect on it.”
how have the strikes impacted the oil markets?
The global oil benchmark Brent Crude Futures rose to $97.58 per barrel early on Monday, up more than 4.8% compared to Friday’s close.
Further reading
Trump says Netanyahu will have ‘no choice’ but to accept a deal with Iran (Financial Times)
