Israel Iran Conflict Escalates as Explosions Rock Tehran After Israeli Strikes
Israel Iran Conflict: Several loud explosions were reported in Iranian cities like Tehran after Israel said it targeted military sites.
This occurred despite US President Donald Trump saying he was managing the situation and had told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to respond to Tehran's missile attacks.
Israel Iran Conflict: Explosions Hit Iranian Cities as Iran-Israel Tensions Flare
Iran Missile Attack on Israel: The attacks in Iranian cities took place as Tehran and Tel Aviv exchanged threats after Iran fired missiles at Israel on Sunday night.
This was the first direct clash since the April 8 ceasefire. Iran said it launched the missiles in response to Israeli strikes on Beirut.
Local media reported several explosions in Tehran, including near Mehrabad International Airport, and also in Isfahan and Tabriz.
Middle East Conflict: Iran Fires Missiles at Israel as Lebanon Tensions Boil Over
Iran Ballistic Missiles: Iran fired 10 ballistic missiles at cities in northern Israel, which set off air-raid sirens.
This was a major escalation after Tehran accused Israel of aggression in Lebanon, especially after recent strikes on Beirut.
Lebanon is at the center of the recent escalation. Tehran has repeatedly said Israeli attacks on Lebanon must stop and that Lebanon is important for any ceasefire or broader agreement between the US and Iran.
This has made peace talks between Washington and Tehran harder.
Israel Iran Crisis: Trump Urges Israel to Stop Lebanon Strikes Amid Iran Tensions
Israel Iran Conflict: The US President has urged Israel to stop its attacks in Lebanon to help reach a deal to end the conflict with Iran.
Last week, he reportedly spoke firmly to Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call.
Still, Israel attacked the Beirut area earlier on Sunday, which was the first strike since the US announced a truce plan for Lebanon last week.
In response, Iran fired missiles at Israeli targets, putting US-Iran peace talks at risk. Trump said a deal could still happen.
Iran Israel Latest Updates: Israel Strikes Iran as Oil Prices Surge; Trump Vows Nuclear Talks Unaffected
A few hours later, Israel's military said it had struck Iranian military targets. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Israel attacked sites inside Iran with air-launched ballistic missiles.
These new clashes pushed oil prices up by more than 3% on Monday, with Brent futures rising above $96 a barrel. Trump said the latest escalation would not affect diplomacy.
"It’s not going to have any impact on the deal," he said. "I call the shots. I call all the shots. He doesn’t call the shots."
Iran Launches Ballistic Missiles at Israel: Trump Urges Netanyahu to Hold Off on Iran Strikes, Citing Imminent Deal
According to the news agency, Trump spoke with Netanyahu by phone for about 30 minutes on Sunday while at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, an Israeli official said.
The call was to urge holding off on more strikes because "we are close to doing something good in terms of a deal."
Meanwhile, Israel has continued its attacks in Lebanon against Hezbollah. Israeli officials say this conflict should be handled separately from any ceasefire with Iran.
A deal with the United States would depend on a ceasefire also holding in Lebanon. Israel invaded Lebanon in March to pursue Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters after they fired rockets and drones across the border in support of Tehran.
Iran's Peace Envoy Declares US Bases, Israeli Assets Legitimate Targets
Israel Iran Conflict: Iran's main peace negotiator, parliamentary speaker Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, said US bases and Israeli assets are legitimate targets because of hostile actions, including the "violation of agreements over Lebanon."
Before Sunday, Iran had not attacked Israel since the broader war's ceasefire began in April, though Hezbollah continued its attacks.
Deal or Destruction: Trump's Iran Ultimatum at 100 Days
Donald Trump Warning: Trump has often said the US and Tehran are close to a deal to end the war.
In a prerecorded interview on NBC News' "Meet the Press" on Sunday, marking 100 days of the conflict, he said: "We're very close to a deal, or I'm going to blow the hell out of it."
Israel has not stopped its campaign in Lebanon, which has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands.
Israel Iran Conflict: Hezbollah, which was not part of the truce talks, has also kept attacking and says it will not give up its weapons unless Israel stops its attacks and leaves Lebanon.
Strikes in Beirut's southern outskirts on Sunday, in the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahiyeh, were ordered in response to Hezbollah fire towards Israel.
Iran Israel Latest News: Hormuz Standoff Deepens as US-Iran Talks Falter
Israel's leadership has also faced criticism from political rivals over a new ceasefire in Lebanon ahead of this year's national election.
Since the US and Israel stopped attacking Iran in early April, Tehran has blocked most shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about a fifth of the world's oil, while Washington has blocked Iranian ports.
Even though both sides say they are close to a deal to reopen the strait, they have kept trading attacks, and recent escalations have included strikes on nearby Arab countries that host US bases.
Iran Missiles Fly as Trump Pushes Tougher Nuclear Deal
Israel Iran Conflict: Trump has said any deal to end the war must stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, and he faces pressure to secure tougher terms than the 2015 agreement made under President Obama, which Trump later rejected.
Tehran wants US and international sanctions lifted, recognition of its control over the strait, and the release of billions in frozen assets.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said their missile attack targeted the Ramat David air base near Nazareth.
The Israeli military said it detected missiles launched from Iran and that its defense systems intercepted them.
As Trump continued to urge Israel to avoid more attacks in Lebanon, both fighting and diplomacy continued.
