War Resumes with Israel, Iran Claims US is Responsible
The Iranian government has stated that the United States is responsible for the resumption of fighting with Israel, asserting that Israel’s actions in the region are “inseparable” from US policy. “Without doubt, as I have said, the actions of the Zionist regime in this region cannot be separated from US policy,” said Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during a press conference in Tehran.
Israeli authorities announced on Monday that they had struck targets across various regions of Iran. This move comes in defiance of calls from US President Donald Trump for restraint following Tehran’s missile barrage. Explosions were reported in three cities, including the capital, Tehran, according to Iranian state television, while the Israeli military confirmed strikes on targets in western and central Iran.
According to reports, Israel stated that its missile strikes were a retaliatory measure against an Iranian attack on Sunday, which involved 11 missiles; all were intercepted with no casualties reported. Prior to this, Trump had attempted to calm Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as Israel accused Tehran of committing a “huge mistake.”
“I will call Bibi [Netanyahu] now and tell him not to retaliating,” Trump reportedly said, as cited by Axios journalist Barak Ravid. “Israel has carried out its attack and Iran has carried out its attack. We do not need further attacks,” Trump added.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also called for restraint, stating on social media that the return of conflict between Iran and Israel serves no one’s interests and urging a return to diplomacy. Tehran has insisted that any permanent ceasefire must also include an end to the parallel conflict in Lebanon, where Israel is conducting operations against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement. Tehran previously warned that any new attacks in Beirut would trigger a return to full-scale hostilities. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ali Safari told Al-Mayadeen television that Tehran’s recent actions occurred after weeks of exercising restraint against Israeli aggression. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard described the strikes as a “warning” following Israeli attacks on the southern outskirts of Beirut, threatening broader retaliation if aggression continues.