Israel has conducted additional airstrikes against Iran. This escalation follows reports that U.S. President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from further attacks, raising new complications for ongoing U.S.-led negotiations aimed at ending hostilities with Iran.
On June 8, local time, the Israeli military announced it targeted military sites in western and central Iran. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claimed that Israel used air-launched ballistic missiles in the strikes. The Israeli military stated it aimed at missile launch sites and infrastructure unrelated to the energy sector.
The attacks came after Iran launched missiles aimed at Israel. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard indicated that the Ramath David Air Force Base near Nazareth was the target. The Israeli military confirmed intercepting missiles launched from Iran and reported that one missile was fired from Yemen towards Israel, which was also intercepted by its defense systems.
The timing of the attacks is significant. President Trump spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu for about 30 minutes the previous day at his Bedminster, New Jersey, residence. According to U.S. officials cited by Reuters, Trump urged Netanyahu to exercise restraint, stating, "We are getting close to doing something good regarding the agreement."
Trump emphasized that further clashes would not impact the negotiations, telling the Financial Times, "The agreement will not be affected. I make the decisions, not Netanyahu." The U.S. is continuing discussions on a plan to end the war with Iran.
Key issues in the negotiations include preventing nuclear weapons development, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, easing sanctions, and handling frozen assets. Iran has linked the maintenance of a ceasefire in Lebanon to the terms of the agreement, while Israel insists that the Lebanese front with Hezbollah should be treated separately from the ceasefire with Iran.
On the previous day, Israel also conducted airstrikes in the southern Dahieh area of Beirut, which is known as a stronghold for the Iran-aligned militant group Hezbollah. Netanyahu described the strikes as a response to Hezbollah's attacks, but the continuation of Israeli strikes following the Trump administration's proposal for a ceasefire has heightened Iranian backlash.
The military tensions have also impacted the energy market. Reuters reported that news of the Israel-Iran clashes caused international oil prices to rise by over 3% early in the trading session, with Brent crude futures surpassing $96 per barrel.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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