Israel launched renewed strikes on Iran on Monday, marking the first direct attacks since a ceasefire was reached in April. The move came despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s public call for restraint and has been widely viewed as a message to Washington that Israel expects a role in any future peace agreement involving Tehran.
The latest escalation began after Iran fired missiles toward Israel. Tehran said the attack was retaliation for Israeli strikes on Lebanon’s capital. In response, Israel targeted sites inside Iran, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
Both countries later signaled a halt to hostilities after Trump urged them to stop exchanging fire. However, neither side ruled out the possibility of future military action.
According to Danny Orbach, a military historian at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel’s decision to strike was intended to remind the United States that its security concerns cannot be ignored during negotiations with Iran.
He argued that any agreement that fails to address Israeli interests could face significant resistance from Jerusalem.
Trump has been pursuing a negotiated settlement with Iran following the conflict that began in February. While the United States has worked to advance diplomatic talks, Israel has largely been excluded from direct participation in the negotiations.
The U.S. president has repeatedly encouraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid military actions that could undermine diplomatic efforts. This includes urging restraint in Lebanon, where Israeli forces launched operations against the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement earlier this year.
Iran has maintained that it will not support a peace agreement with Washington unless a ceasefire in Lebanon remains in place.
Last week, Netanyahu reportedly canceled planned airstrikes on Beirut after a phone conversation with Trump. The U.S. president later revealed that the exchange was heated, though he emphasized that relations between the two leaders remain strong.
The incident has fueled criticism within Israel. Opposition figures accused Netanyahu of limiting Israel’s military freedom to preserve U.S.-Iran negotiations while leaving Israel without direct representation at the negotiating table.
The renewed strikes highlight the growing tension between military action and diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. While a temporary pause in fighting has been achieved, the underlying disagreements between Israel, Iran, and the United States continue to cast uncertainty over the prospects for a lasting peace agreement.
