Israel’s military launched a new wave of airstrikes on Iranian military targets in western and central Iran just minutes after President Trump warned Tehran not to retaliate further, according to reports. The strikes follow a weekend of tit-for-tat missile exchanges and came as Trump insisted both sides stop fighting to pursue a peace deal, reportedly telling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he ‘calls all the shots’.

Minutes After Trump’s ‘Enough’ Ultimatum: Why the Timing Matters

The close timing between Trump’s warning and the Israeli operation suggests a deliberate message to both Tehran and Washington. as the source reports, Trump told Iran, ‘You’ve shot your missiles, that’s enough.. Get back to the table and make a deal.’ Yet Israel’s military struck almost simultaneously, underscoring a divergence between US calls for calm and Israeli operational autonomy. Brig Gen Effie Defrin, an IDF spokesman, said the military is prepared for additional fire and that air defence systems are deployed nationwide.

This pattern – a US demand for restraint followed by Israeli action – has repeated in recent months. The source notes that Trump had earlier called Netanyahu and ordered both sides to stop fighting after Israeli strikes on Beirut and Iranian strikes on northern Israel.. The new raids show that Netanyahu may be willing to risk US displeasure to degrade Iranian capabilities .

A Ceasefire in Lebanon – But No Letup on the Iranian Front

Just days before the latest strikes, Lebanese and Israeli governments agreed to a ceasefire in US-hosted talks, the report states. Yet that diplomatic breakthrough did not extend to the Iran-Israel direct exchanges. Iran’s military said in a statement that it had conditionally accepted an April 8 ceasefire on all fronts, but accused America and Israel of violating it by continuing aggression in Lebanon and attacking Iranian vessels. This fragmented regional picture – with separate ceasefires and continuing strikes – highlights the challenge of de-escalating a multi-front conflict where Iran backs Hezbollah and other proxies.

What Iran’s Parliament Speaker Meant by ‘Legitimate Targets’

Hours before the Israeli strikes, Iran’s parliament speaker warned that a US naval blockade and Washington’s ‘green light’ to Israel would make ‘US and Israeli bases and assets in the region legitimate targets’.. The statement, as reported in the source, escalates the rhetoric from political institutions. It stops short of authorising attacks on US forces but signals that Tehran views American military presence as part of the battlefield. Senior parliament member Ebrahim Rezaei posted ‘Watch the sky of the occupied territories tonight’ on X, hinting that Iran was anticipating Israeli action even before the strikes hit.

Will Tehran Strike Back with Greater Force?

According to the source, Iran has vowed to respond with greater force after these latest Israeli attacks. But what ‘greater force’ looks like remains uncertain – the report does not specify operational details. Brig Gen Defrin confirmed Israel is ‘prepared for the possibility of additional fire’. The open question is whether Tehran will launch a wider missile barrage, target Israeli interests abroad, or return to proxy attacks through Hezbollah. Trump’s warning, combined with reported US naval moves, suggests Washington is trying to cap the escalation – but the effectiveness of that pressure on both sides is unproven.