"Trump Scrambles to Prevent Ceasefire Talks From Collapsing, Pressuring Israel and Iran at the Same Time"

【The Financial News, New York = Lee Byung-chul, correspondent】 Tensions are rising again in the Middle East after Iran launched a direct missile attack on Israel for the first time since the ceasefire with the United States. For President Donald Trump, who is rushing to secure a peace deal, the attack has emerged as an unexpected variable that could deepen fears of a wider regional conflict and disrupt the negotiations.
■ Iran launches first missile attack since the ceasefire
On the 7th local time, Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for an Israeli airstrike on the outskirts of Beirut that targeted Hezbollah. Iran's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the missile attack was an act of self-defense. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it intercepted all of the missiles. The government, however, ordered schools nationwide to close. This was the first time Iran had directly attacked the Israeli mainland since the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran was reached in April. Concerns are also growing that the Middle East could once again slide back into all-out conflict.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said, "The prerequisite for a ceasefire is a ceasefire on all fronts," adding, "This attack is a warning, and if there are further attacks, our response will expand." The IDF said, "We will strike Iran forcefully as soon as the order is given."
As the ceasefire appeared to be unraveling and the risk of escalation grew, Trump moved quickly. In an interview with Fox News, he said, "There was no coordination with Israel over the attack on Lebanon. I am not pleased." He is also said to have spoken directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urged him to refrain from retaliation. In an interview with the Financial Times, he added more pressure, saying, "Netanyahu has no choice. I decide everything."
■ Trump pressures Netanyahu and Iran at the same time
Trump told Iran, "What I want to say to Iran is that they fired missiles, so they should return to the negotiating table and reach an agreement." In an interview with NBC that day, he said a deal was "very close," while adding, "A few issues remain. They do not seem like major problems." Fox News reported that Trump said a deal with Iran could be reached within eight to 10 days and that progress was being made "in the right direction." U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also said that a ceasefire deal with Iran would be reached soon. Trump appears intent on wrapping up the ceasefire talks before the opening of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With the world watching, he is working to keep the ceasefire intact by pressuring both Iran and Israel, determined to avoid a renewed crisis in the Middle East during the tournament.
Iran, meanwhile, is using Trump's time pressure as leverage in the negotiations. Unlike the U.S., Iran is slowing the pace of talks while demanding additional concessions, and the struggle for the upper hand in the final stretch is intensifying. Iran has recently pressed the U.S. by demanding, alongside a peace agreement, the release of frozen assets and the complete withdrawal of the IDF from Lebanon.
pride@fnnews.com Reporter