U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters while aboard Air Force One. AFP
"Israel and Iran must immediately stop 'shooting'," Trump said on Truth Social.
Iran and Israel on Monday attacked each other's territory for the first time since a shaky ceasefire put five weeks of war on hold, sparking fears the escalation could spark a new full-scale conflict.
Iran fired a barrage of missiles at Israel overnight and Israel responded by targeting military sites in the Islamic Republic, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apparently defying calls by his ally President Donald Trump for restraint.
Tehran's strikes followed attacks by Israel against targets of the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Iran had repeatedly warned it would strike Israel if the Lebanese capital was targeted.
On Sunday, Trump called for calm from both Netanyahu and the Islamic Republic.
Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched the war in a closely coordinated attack, with Israeli officials proudly boasting of unprecedented “shoulder to shoulder” cooperation throughout the conflict, which reached 100 days on Monday.
But since the first strikes, the two men have moved in opposite directions, with tensions sometimes spilling out into the open.
Netanyahu appears to have openly defied Trump with his strike Sunday in Beirut and subsequent attacks in Iran, while Trump has voiced his displeasure with Israel, occasionally cursing or belittling Netanyahu by declaring to the Financial Times that "I call all the shots. He doesn't call the shots", referring to Netanyahu.
The differences between the leaders appear to be rooted in the domestic considerations of each. Netanyahu faces elections this fall and is under heavy public pressure to strike back against ongoing Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel. He also is wary of appearing too subservient to Trump.
The U.S. president, meanwhile, also faces elections — for Congress in November — and is eager to wrap up a war that has jolted the global economy and raised prices for consumers.
There were some weekend signs of ongoing diplomatic efforts, with Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visiting Tehran to deliver what he said was a "special letter" to Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, according to Iranian state television.
He has since travelled back to Pakistan, an official Pakistani source said on Monday.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump said: "What I would suggest to Iran: You've shot your missiles, that's enough, get back to the table and make a deal."
Minutes later, Trump claimed in a new post that Iran and Israel were seeking an "immediate CEASEFIRE."
"Both sides, Israel and Iran, are looking to do an immediate CEASEFIRE!" he said.
"Final negotiations on 'Peace' are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way," he added.
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