WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday that the ceasefire between Iran and Israel was holding, shortly after angrily criticizing both nations for violating the agreement. His unexpected outburst came just hours before departing for a NATO summit in The Hague.
Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn, Trump expressed frustration with the two countries, saying, “They’ve been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the hell they’re doing.” He accused both sides of breaking the truce, adding, “I’ve got to get Israel to calm down.”
Despite the heated comments, Trump later posted on his Truth Social platform, declaring, “The Ceasefire is in effect!” He claimed Israeli warplanes were turning back and doing a “friendly plane wave” to Iran, suggesting that both countries were now committed to the agreement.
Earlier that day, Trump had issued a stern public warning to Israel, writing in all caps: “ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS.” He emphasized that any further military action would be a major violation of the deal, signaling a rare moment of public pressure on a close US ally.
The ceasefire, which Trump described as a phased process, required Iran to halt operations first, followed by Israel 12 hours later. Trump called the US-led airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites over the weekend a success, despite mixed reports from US intelligence about the actual damage.
If the truce continues, it will mark a significant political win for Trump amid concerns about regional instability. However, skepticism remains, as tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated rapidly in recent weeks, keeping the possibility of renewed conflict on the horizon.