"Israel and Iran must immediately cease fire," President Donald Trump wrote today on the social media platform Truth Social.

Minutes later, he added in a new post that both Israel and Iran were seeking an immediate ceasefire. He further stated that "final negotiations toward peace are still underway, unless obstructed by foolish or ignorant actions."

President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, White House, on 3/6. *Photo: AP*

Not long after Trump's statement, the Iranian military announced it had halted its offensive against Israel, claiming it had "inflicted a painful retaliatory blow" on the adversary.

The statement emphasized: "However, it must be stressed that if aggressive and hostile actions persist, including in southern Lebanon, far harsher and more severe sanctions than before will be implemented."

In a post on social media platform X, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the country is not abandoning negotiation efforts despite tensions with Israel.

"Diplomacy and defense are two pillars of national strength. We are not abandoning the battlefield nor the negotiation table," he said, adding that Tehran "will not back down from any threats."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later spoke by phone with President Trump, Israeli media reported. However, no official ceasefire announcement has been issued by Tel Aviv.

Iran launched a volley of missiles into Israeli territory on 7/6. This was in retaliation for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attack on the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, a recognized stronghold of the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah.

Iran had repeatedly warned it would attack Israel if Lebanon's capital was targeted.

The Israeli military reported it retaliated, destroying Iranian defense systems deployed in various areas of the country. A military official stated that Iran launched nearly 30 missiles toward Israel in this latest attack.

Moments as Israeli air defense fired to counter Iranian missiles on 7/6. *Video: Reuters, IRIB*

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated it attacked Israel's Nevatim and Tel Nof airbases. It also targeted an oil refinery facility in Israel in retaliation for an attack on a similar site in southwestern Iran.

The IRGC warned that Israel "has initiated a dangerous game, implying that all energy targets throughout the region could become targets."

By Vu Hoang, AFP