In an extraordinary and unscripted moment of diplomatic frustration, U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out Tuesday morning after Israel and Iran both defied a 24-hour ceasefire agreement he had announced just hours earlier. Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One en route to a NATO summit, Trump said of the situation, “They don’t know what the f** they’re doing,”* referring to both countries’ failure to honor the truce.
The verbal ceasefire agreement, which Trump revealed early Tuesday local time, was supposed to take effect at 7:00 a.m. Iranian time, after an intensifying 12-day military confrontation between Israel and Iran had threatened to plunge the broader Middle East into war. Yet only hours into the fragile truce, violence resumed—starting with two intercepted Iranian missiles over Haifa and culminating in a retaliatory Israeli airstrike near Tehran.
Trump’s Anger and a Broken Truce
“I was trying to get Israel to calm down,” Trump told reporters. “That missile landed nowhere, probably a mistake. But then they send warplanes into Iran? I told them—stand down. Both sides broke it. It’s a joke.”
Trump’s unfiltered rebuke marked a rare instance in which a sitting U.S. president publicly criticized Israel, a longstanding ally, with language as harsh as that used toward Iran, America’s long-time adversary. The president appeared visibly agitated, having just hours earlier celebrated what he characterized as a breakthrough ceasefire deal.
On Truth Social, Trump doubled down on his frustration, writing: “Israel was not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran. Nobody will be hurt.” Shortly after, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed a targeted strike on a radar station outside Tehran, reigniting fears of wider escalation.
The Shortest Ceasefire?
The ceasefire, though never formalized in writing, was reportedly accepted in principle by both nations. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated publicly that Iran would “not continue to retaliate” as long as Israel halted its strikes. Trump claimed Israel agreed as well. But within hours, sirens in northern Israel signaled renewed danger. The Israeli military said two missiles from Iran were intercepted; Iran denied responsibility.
In response, Israeli War Minister Israel Katz ordered a strike into Iranian territory—undermining the already-tenuous ceasefire agreement.
The Road to War
This latest flashpoint began on June 13, when Israel launched a series of surprise attacks across Iran, reportedly killing several senior Iranian military officials and destroying key nuclear and missile facilities. Iran responded immediately with ballistic missile salvos, striking Tel Aviv, Haifa, and other major cities.
Over the next 12 days, both sides engaged in a cycle of strikes and counterstrikes that left hundreds dead, vital infrastructure destroyed, and regional powers on high alert. The U.S. was drawn directly into the fray on Monday when six Iranian missiles hit Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which houses U.S. forces.
Although Iran claimed it gave the U.S. advance notice, Trump downplayed the attack as “weak” and used the moment to push for a diplomatic breakthrough. “Now we can move to peace,” he posted hours before announcing the ceasefire.
Regional Chaos
Israel’s military escalation is widely viewed as part of its ongoing campaign following the October 7, 2023, attacks and the devastation of Gaza, where more than 60,000 Palestinians, primarily women and children, have reportedly been killed. Israel has also expanded operations into Lebanon and southern Syria, sparking international condemnation and raising alarms over a broader war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently pushed for aggressive action against Iran. In a recent interview, he stated that Israel’s goal is to “change the face of the Middle East”—one that doesn’t require resolving the Palestinian issue but involves neutralizing Iran’s nuclear and regional influence.
Netanyahu has long advocated for U.S.-led military action against Iran. His rhetoric, dating back to the early 2000s, has framed Iran as the central threat to regional peace—a message he repeated in his opposition to the Iran nuclear deal.
A Turning Point, or a Prelude?
Despite Trump’s unconventional approach to diplomacy, the ceasefire collapse has exposed the limits of his leverage—especially as both nations continue to act unilaterally. With no binding agreement and ongoing military actions, international observers warn that the region remains on the brink of further escalation.
Iran’s nuclear capabilities remain intact, according to Iranian officials, despite Israeli strikes. Its ballistic missile systems are still operational, and its influence over regional proxy forces continues.
Whether Trump’s expletive-laced condemnation reflects private frustration or signals a shift in U.S. Middle East policy is unclear. What is certain: the ceasefire lasted mere hours, and the road to lasting peace in the region appears more elusive than ever.
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