U.S. President Donald Trump has voiced his displeasure following the violation of the ceasefire deal he brokered between Israel and Iran, expressing disappointment in both nations for reigniting hostilities just hours after the agreement was made public.
Speaking candidly to ABC News on Tuesday morning prior to boarding Air Force One, Trump revealed that he had hoped the ceasefire would signal a shift towards peace after nearly two weeks of intensifying conflict. However, his hopes were quickly dashed as fresh military actions broke out almost immediately.
“Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and dropped a boatload of bombs, the likes of which I’ve never seen before,” Trump stated. “The biggest load we’ve seen — I’m not happy with Israel.”
He went on to criticize the Israeli military’s decision to launch strikes within the first hour of the ceasefire window, arguing that it demonstrated a disregard for the terms and spirit of the truce.
“When I say now you have 12 hours, you don’t go out in the first hour and drop everything you have on them,” he added. “So, I’m not happy with them. I’m not happy with Iran either.”
The renewed tensions came amid conflicting reports: while Israel claimed that Iran had launched additional missiles after the agreement was signed, Tehran categorically denied those claims, labeling them as unfounded and misleading.
Despite those denials, Trump acknowledged the Iranian missile activity, although he downplayed its severity by suggesting that the missile may have been fired mistakenly. Still, he reiterated his dissatisfaction with both governments for failing to uphold the ceasefire.
“I’m unhappy if Israel is going out this morning because of one rocket that didn’t land, that was shot perhaps by mistake, but didn’t land,” he said. “This is not how you honor peace.”
The President further remarked on the decades-long animosity between the two countries, noting that the hostility may have clouded their ability to make rational decisions during moments of potential peace.
“We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard, they don’t know what the f* they’re doing,” Trump said, using blunt language to highlight his frustration.
Still, in spite of the setbacks, Trump expressed hope that diplomacy might yet prevail. When asked whether he believed Iran was still committed to the ceasefire agreement, he replied, “I do.”
The ceasefire, which was brokered late Monday night by the Trump administration, was designed to halt a dangerous escalation in hostilities that had led to extensive destruction, civilian casualties, and growing fears of a full-scale regional war in the Middle East.
Both Iran and Israel have come under increased scrutiny from the international community, which has called on both nations to deescalate tensions and respect the ceasefire to prevent further loss of life and destruction.