A woman waves an Iranian flag in front of pictures of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his successor, his son Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran on Jun 7, 2026. (Photo: AFP/Atta Kenare)
Israel confirmed it struck military targets in western and central Iran on Monday, defying President Donald Trump's reported plea to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt further attacks. Trump had told the Financial Times, "I call the shots," adding that the new strikes would not derail US-Iran peace talks. But hours later, Israel said it hit Iranian military sites with air-launched ballistic missiles. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they targeted Israel's Ramat David air base, claims Israel denies, saying its defenses intercepted the missiles.
The escalation sent benchmark Brent crude above $96 a barrel, a more than 3% jump.
Trump, at his New Jersey golf club, spoke with Netanyahu for 30 minutes Sunday, urging him to hold off because "we are close to doing something good in terms of a deal," per Axios. Israel also struck Beirut's Hezbollah stronghold, Dahiyeh, for the first time since the US announced a Lebanon truce plan last week. Hezbollah, which continues attacks, says it won't disarm unless Israel leaves Lebanon.
The wider war has been stalemated since April, with Iran blocking most shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, key to one-fifth of global oil. Washington imposed its own blockade on Iranian ports. Trump demands any deal prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Tehran's conditions include lifting sanctions, recognition of its control over the strait, and release of frozen assets.