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Israel and Iran Pause Strikes as Trump Presses for Final Peace Deal

President Trump asserts control over regional tensions as Israel and Iran hold fire amid high-stakes negotiations.

Foreign PolicyPublished June 9, 2026 at 5:48 AMProcessed June 9, 2026 at 6:35 AM
Israeli settlers use a tractor to haul away a large section of a downed Iranian missile toward their farm on June 8, 2026 on the outskirts of Jericho, Israel.

Israel and Iran have entered a temporary pause in hostilities following an intense exchange of fire, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirming that Israel is holding fire for the moment.

The de-escalation comes as President Donald Trump exerts significant pressure on the parties to finalize a deal aimed at ending the regional conflict, which has seen the Iranian regime and its Hezbollah proxies target Israeli territory and disrupt vital shipping lanes.

President Trump, who has been clear that he is driving the diplomatic process, noted that he is in the final stages of securing a powerful agreement that would address nuclear proliferation and regional security.

While the Iranian military claimed to have delivered a 'painful response' to Israeli strikes on its military infrastructure, the regime continues to issue empty threats of future retaliation. Meanwhile, Israel maintains its sovereign right to self-defense, having targeted key Iranian ballistic missile production facilities in Mahshahr.

The conflict, which escalated following the elimination of top Iranian leadership earlier this year, has placed the onus on the United States to navigate a path toward stability while ensuring that American interests and allies are protected.

As negotiations proceed, the administration remains focused on common-sense solutions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and neutralize the threat posed by the Iranian regime's aggression.

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israelirandonald-trumpforeign-policymiddle-east

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