The shaky 48-hour ceasefire between Iran and Israel, which President Donald Trump took credit for brokering, has crumbles amid renewed missile exchanges and rising tensions across the Middle East. Israel launched overnight strikes on Tehran, citing Iranian violations of the truce — charges Iran has flatly denied. At the same time, Iranian missiles struck U.S. bases in Qatar, raising the stakes dramatically.

Ceasefire Crumbles Under Fire

Early this morning, Israeli officials claimed Iran fired ballistic missiles toward its northern regions, breaking the U.S.-mediated ceasefire. Israel’s response was swift: military jets struck Iranian nuclear and military targets in Tehran. Fires and explosions were reported across the Iranian capital. Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied launching any attacks after the truce began and said the Israeli strikes were unprovoked.

The conflict shows signs of widening. Hours after Israel’s strike, Iran retaliated, not against Israel, but by targeting U.S. forces in Qatar with medium-range ballistic missiles. Casualty reports are still emerging.

Trump Takes Center Stage

In an unfiltered exchange with reporters at the White House, President Trump launched into a profanity-laced tirade about the ongoing conflict.

“They don’t know what the f— they’re doing,”

Trump said bluntly, referring to both Iran and Israel.

He later took to Truth Social, publicly warning Israel against further aggression:

“ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!”

Trump’s ceasefire efforts had relied on informal diplomacy, working through backchannel talks with Qatari intermediaries and personal contacts. While Trump insisted both sides had confirmed the truce, Iranian officials disputed that any formal agreement was in place.

Ceasefire Crumbles: Diplomacy in Freefall

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran agreed to pause only if Israel stopped first, emphasizing that there was “no agreement signed, no formal ceasefire.” That interpretation is at odds with Trump’s public declarations of a peace deal.

European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, backed Trump’s efforts but urged all sides to avoid escalating. The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session today as diplomatic pressure mounted.

Markets React With Cautious Optimism

Despite the renewed violence, global markets surged. U.S. stocks climbed, oil prices fell, and gold declined as investors expressed faith that Trump might reinstate a ceasefire. Analysts cautioned that while market reaction was optimistic, the situation on the ground was dangerously unstable.

“This is not peace,” said one analyst. “This is a pause with a hair trigger.”

Casualties and Military Action After Ceasefire Crumbles

The death toll continues to rise. More than 600 people have died in Iran since the start of the conflict earlier this month, with at least 28 casualties reported in Israel. Iranian missiles injured U.S. troops in Qatar, marking a significant escalation.

On June 22, U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan using B-2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles. Trump later claimed those attacks “set Iran’s nuclear program back months.”

What Comes Next

Trump returned from The Hague Tuesday night and is said to be pressing for a full and permanent ceasefire. He insists his team remains in contact with both Iranian and Israeli officials.

Iran has reiterated that it will only halt attacks if Israel does. The U.N., NATO, and several European leaders are urging both sides to step back. Whether Trump’s intervention can restore the truce remains to be seen.

The Middle East is once again teetering on the edge. Trump, through bombastic warnings and high-stakes diplomacy, is now the most visible player in a crisis that could ignite global consequences.