Iran & Israel cease fire for now, PM Netanyahu warns: If Iran attacks again we’ll respond with ‘overwhelming force’

Iranian officials and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the current exchange of fire would be completed for now, after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly demanded that both sides stop firing at each other on Monday.

The IDF Home Front Command lowered the country-wide security precautions to their regular level, except for the northern border, allowing most schools and workplaces to reopen on Tuesday.

The Iranian regime on Sunday and Monday had launched the first ballistic missile strikes on Israel since the ceasefire started in April, in response to an Israeli strike against Hezbollah in Beirut.

Despite strong U.S. opposition, Israel retaliated by conducting two waves of airstrikes in Iran, targeting military targets as well as a crucial component of Iran’s largest petrochemical plant, i24 News reported.

Both sides, Israel and Iran, are looking to do an immediate CEASEFIRE! Final negotiations on “Peace” are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way. The Blockade will remain in place, and in full force and effect, until a “Final Deal” is reached. Things… pic.twitter.com/qYKr8flknz

— Commentary Donald J. Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) June 8, 2026

In the afternoon, Iran’s emergency military command Khatam al-Anbiya announced the “cessation of armed forces operations,” while adding, “it is emphasized that if the aggression and acts of malice continue, including in southern Lebanon, much more severe and crushing measures than before will be forthcoming.”

The statements came after Trump wrote on Truth Social that “Israel and Iran must immediately stop ‘shooting,’” after telling several media outlets that he opposed Israel’s strikes in response to the Iranian launches.

He followed this up with a longer statement that claimed both sides “are looking to do an immediate CEASEFIRE!,” adding that Jerusalem and Tehran were negotiating over “peace.”

תיעוד ראשון בצבע מהתקיפות באיראן: צה"ל השמיד לפני זמן קצר מערכות הגנה אוויריות של משטר הטרור האיראני

חיל האוויר השלים לפני זמן קצר מטס תקיפה לעבר מערכות הגנה אוויריות של משטר הטרור האיראני במערב ובמרכז איראן.

צה"ל מפרסם כעת תיעוד בצבע מהשמדת אחת מהמערכות, בה אוחסנו טילים… pic.twitter.com/NVesj23CM8

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) June 8, 2026

He also vowed that “the [naval] Blockade will remain in place, and in full force and effect, until a ‘Final Deal’ is reached. Things should move quickly.”

Iran had launched a total of 22-24 ballistic missiles, while the Yemeni Houthis contributed two more, according to Israeli media reports.

An Israeli official briefed Israeli media outlets that “the sense is that this round of fighting is behind us. We are awaiting a final decision from the political leadership.”

“At the moment, we are holding our fire because after we struck the terror regime in Tehran, it ceased attacking us,” said Netanyahu in a televised statement on Monday evening.

“In the event that the terror regime in Iran makes the mistake of resuming attacks on us – we will respond with overwhelming force. Israel has a full right to self-defense, and we are exercising it to the extent necessary. I say this to you, just as I say this, with appreciation and respect, in my good conversations with my friend President Trump,” he added.

The Iranian regime launched its second barrage of missiles around 10 a.m., and then conveyed its readiness to cease firing to the Trump administration.

At this time, Israel was reportedly preparing a dramatic, broad wave of strikes in Iran, when Trump again called Netanyahu.

Speaking to the channel, some sources characterized the conversation as friendly, while others described it as the opposite, with Trump instructing Israel to stop.

“You've done what you've done. Now cease fire. We're moving toward an agreement,” Trump reportedly told Netanyahu, who then returned to the IDF command bunker to abort the planned attack, with aircraft already having prepared for takeoff.

Army Radio confirmed that dozens of Israeli Air Force fighter jets were ready to join the mission, while Channel 13 revealed that, in addition to Trump, a variety of U.S. officials took part in a “marathon” of discussions with Israeli counterparts throughout the day, including State Secretary Marco Rubio and War Secretary Pete Hegseth.

According to Channel 13, the tenor was for Israel to strike and finish the exchange without getting dragged into a longer exchange, while the U.S. strongly opposed more strikes on energy infrastructure.

“In the last 24 hours, Iran and Hezbollah tried to impose a new equation upon us,” Netanyahu said in his televised speech. “And it is an equation I find intolerable and unacceptable. They thought they would fire at Israel from Lebanese territory and from Iran – and we would not act. That did not happen, and it will not happen.”

Despite the momentary ceasefire with Iran, Hezbollah continued launching rockets at Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, some of which also triggered sirens in northern Israel, while the IDF struck targets in southern Lebanon.

After making no statements for some 24 hours, Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated on Sunday afternoon that any direct attack on Israel would receive a response in Hezbollah’s Beirut stronghold.

“The rule for Dahiyeh in Beirut is the same as for the northern communities. Every attack on the northern communities will lead to a strike in Dahiyeh,” Katz said.

“We completely reject Iran's threats. Any Iranian attempt to link Lebanon and Iran and attack Israel will be met with great force, as happened yesterday.”