After Israel attacked Iran in spite of the ceasefire he mediated, President Trump became enraged and intervened directly to stop a planned massive Israeli attack on Iranian territory. Israel said that after the ceasefire went into effect, Iran violated the agreement by launching missiles at northern Israel. On Truth Social, Trump gave Israel a public directive: “Don’t drop those bombs.” Now bring your pilots home.” Trump intervened, but Israel still carried out a limited attack on an Iranian radar installation.
Trump’s Anger Over Ceasefire Violation
President Donald Trump’s frustration boiled over after a ceasefire he personally negotiated between Israel and Iran collapsed almost immediately. Trump reacted with uncharacteristic public criticism of Israel when Israeli forces launched airstrikes following the announced truce. The incident revealed Trump’s determination to assert American leadership in the volatile Middle East conflict and demonstrated his willingness to publicly pressure even close allies like Israel when he believes they’ve violated agreements.
In an unusually direct rebuke delivered through his Truth Social platform, Trump ordered Israel to stand down from further attacks, writing, “Israel. Do not drop those bombs. If you do it, it is a major violation. Bring your pilots home now!” The forceful command came after Trump had already expressed frustration about earlier Israeli bombing following the ceasefire announcement.
What on earth is going on?
We have trump on the phone with the Israeli prime minister telling him not to drop bombs, all whilst posting on social media that a ceasefire is in effect, and then Israel are dropping bombs anyway? 😂
It’s like a really bad sit com😅 pic.twitter.com/HEbyei6tbB
— BrandonUTD🇬🇧 (@Brandon45249531) June 24, 2025
Competing Claims About Ceasefire Violations
Both sides pointed fingers about who violated the fragile agreement first. Israeli officials claimed that Iran broke the truce by firing ballistic missiles toward northern Israel after the ceasefire took effect. The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed missile launches at their territory following an earlier Iranian strike that reportedly killed four people in Beersheba. Iran, meanwhile, denied breaking the ceasefire and suggested through state media that the truce was only implemented after multiple attacks on Israeli territories.
The situation escalated when Israel’s defense minister ordered retaliation for what they viewed as Iranian violations. This decision put Netanyahu’s government at odds with Trump’s cease-and-desist demands, creating a rare public rift between the American president and Israeli leadership. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich further inflamed tensions by vowing a forceful response to Iran, contradicting Trump’s calls for restraint.
❝I didn't like plenty of things that I saw yesterday. I didn't like the fact that Israel unloaded right after we made the deal❞
US President Donald Trump warned Israel against bombing Iran, calling it a 'major violation' of a ceasefire agreement https://t.co/c6CyKVQkSk pic.twitter.com/HTwXpITuh1
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) June 24, 2025
Scaled-Back Strike Despite Presidential Warning
Despite Trump’s intervention and direct communication with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israel proceeded with what officials described as a “limited strike” against an Iranian radar installation near Tehran. Reports indicate that Netanyahu told Trump the planned attack couldn’t be entirely canceled but assured him it would be significantly scaled back from the originally intended operation. This compromise approach allowed Netanyahu to maintain face domestically while partially accommodating Trump’s demands.
Explosions were reported in Iran shortly after Trump’s announcement that Israel would not attack, confirming that some form of military action had indeed proceeded. The limited nature of the strike suggested Israel was walking a fine line between responding to what it viewed as Iranian provocations while not completely defying the American president, who had put his prestige on the line with the ceasefire announcement.
Broader Implications for Regional Stability
The ceasefire negotiation came after a dangerous escalation between the regional powers that threatened to engulf the entire Middle East in wider conflict. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid used the moment to call for an end to fighting in Gaza as well, saying, “It’s time to finish it there too. Bring back the hostages and end the war. Israel needs to start rebuilding.” The statement reflected growing war-weariness among some Israeli political factions.
Trump’s advisers suggested the ceasefire represented a strategic achievement, claiming Iran was forced to negotiate due to Israeli military pressure. Vice President JD Vance went further, asserting that Iran’s nuclear capabilities had been destroyed in the conflict. However, UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi contradicted this assessment, stating that damage to Iran’s Fordow nuclear site could not yet be properly assessed, raising questions about the actual strategic impact of the military exchanges.