A ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran, brokered by the U.S. and Qatar after nearly two weeks of deadly conflict, is already hanging by a thread — and former President Donald Trump isn’t holding back.
The agreement, which took effect late Monday, was meant to end the missile and drone attacks that had brought the region to the brink of all-out war. But barely hours in, signs of serious trouble emerged: Israeli airstrikes near Isfahan and Iranian drone launches in retaliation, all despite the declared truce.
🎙️ On Tuesday morning, Trump, clearly frustrated, unloaded in front of reporters on the White House South Lawn:
“Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and dropped a load of bombs the likes of which I’ve never seen before.”
“I’ve got to get Israel to calm down.”
“We have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f*** they’re doing.”
The ceasefire's rocky rollout cast a shadow over what Trump had touted just a day earlier as a breakthrough. On his Truth Social feed, Trump had triumphantly declared:
“The Ceasefire is in effect! ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran.”
But reality struck fast and hard.
🛑 Hours later, Trump posted a blunt warning — seemingly aimed directly at Israeli leadership:
“ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!”
Ceasefire or Just a Pause?
Despite the outbursts, there was some progress. By late Tuesday, for the first time in nearly two weeks, missile and drone fire ceased on both sides. Iran denied violating the ceasefire and accused Israel of continuing its attacks for more than an hour after the truce was meant to begin.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office later admitted to a strike near Tehran after the ceasefire deadline — but said Israel had paused further military action.
Still, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed Iran had already violated the agreement by launching missiles — a charge Tehran denied. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded that Iran would not fire unless fired upon, and that final decisions were still pending.
Trump’s Tightrope Walk 🎭
In a move that surprised some observers, Trump clarified that he was not seeking regime change in Iran — a sharp contrast to hawkish rhetoric earlier in his presidency.
“I’m not happy with Iran, but I’m really unhappy with Israel right now,” Trump said.
Insiders say Trump felt personally undermined. According to White House correspondents, there was “extra fury” directed at Israel, with some suggesting Trump felt “betrayed” by Netanyahu’s decision to launch fresh strikes after the ceasefire had been arranged.
This comes after Trump authorized high-risk U.S. airstrikes over the weekend on three Iranian nuclear facilities — a move hailed by hawks but questioned by intelligence officials and the UN, who say there’s no conclusive evidence Iran was developing a nuclear weapon.
Iranian Reaction: Diplomatic Hints and Victory Rhetoric
From Tehran, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian hailed the ceasefire as a “historic victory” against what he called Israeli “adventurism.” Speaking with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Pezeshkian said the war had ended thanks to “heroic resistance.”
Iranian officials appeared cautiously optimistic about Trump’s tone. One analyst on Iranian state TV said Trump’s comments “could signal a new opening for dialogue.”
In Tehran, Foreign Minister Araghchi remained measured, saying Iran would hold its fire as long as it wasn’t provoked, but insisted that the final decision on ending military operations was still under review.
The Bigger Picture 🧩
The truce, if it holds, would represent a massive political win for Trump — especially after sending U.S. bombers deep into Iranian territory. Yet its fragile start raises tough questions:
Can Israel and Iran actually stick to a truce long enough to pursue diplomacy?
Is Trump’s real-time diplomacy-by-social-media helping or hindering the peace process?
Will Netanyahu face political consequences for testing the limits of a deal backed by his strongest ally?
Trump says the ceasefire is still alive. The next 48 hours will prove whether it’s a genuine pause or just a lull in a broader, deadlier conflict.
