Iran says it has ended military operation against Israel, warns of harsher response if attacks continue

Iran on Monday said it was ending its latest military operation against Israel following the first exchange of fire between the two sides since a fragile ceasefire came into effect However Tehran warned that any further attacks would invite a more crushing response news agency AFP reportedEarlier in the day US President Donald Trump urged both Iran and Israel to stop fighting amid reports of growing tensions between him and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuIran launched dozens of missiles at Israel overnight while Israel responded by striking military targets inside Iran raising fears that the escalation could reignite a fullscale conflict after the April 8 truceIsrael and Iran must immediately stop shooting President DONALD J TRUMP Trump wrote on his Truth Social platformMinutes later he posted again saying that final negotiations towards peace were progressing subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its wayIrans military command later announced that it was halting the operation after delivering what it described as a painful response to IsraelIran warns of harsher response as tensions spill into LebanonAt the same time it warned that should acts of aggression and hostility continue including in southern Lebanon much more severe and crushing measures than before will followShortly afterwards Israels military said it had intercepted three projectiles fired from Lebanon The Israeli military said the projectiles had targeted its forces operating in southern LebanonSome of the projectiles were intercepted prior to crossing into Israeli territory and an additional projectile fell near IDF soldiers No injuries were reported the military statedIrans earlier strikes came after Israel targeted sites linked to the Iranbacked Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah in Beiruts southern suburbsTehran had repeatedly warned that it would strike Israel if the Lebanese capital came under attackDespite the renewed tensions there was little visible sign of a return to war in Tehran on Monday with cafes and restaurants remaining crowdedIn Tel Aviv residents rushed to shelters after air raid sirens soundedOil prices jump as fresh attacks threaten fragile truceOil prices rose by more than five per cent amid concerns that the conflict could intensify again disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz one of the worlds most important trade routesThe developments came at a sensitive stage in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict with Pakistan continuing its mediation effortsIranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei warned during a press conference in Tehran that diplomacy was continuing but could be affected by the latest escalationWhile he was speaking at the foreign ministry a powerful explosion shook the building followed by several more blasts believed to be linked to air defence activityPakistans Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Tehran to deliver what he described as a special letter to Irans supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei Iranian state television reportedA Pakistani official later confirmed that Naqvi had returned to PakistanIranian President Masoud Pezehskian said in a post on X that Tehran remained at the negotiating tableNo casualties reported as both sides signal readiness for prolonged conflictNo casualties have been reported in either Israel or Iran following the latest exchange of fireThe Israeli military said it had struck and dismantled Iranian defence systems deployed across several parts of the country An Israeli military official said Iran had fired nearly 30 missiles towards Israel since Sunday nightA military source told the Tasnim news agency that Iran is prepared for a longterm war with the Zionist regime and for strikes against US interests in the regionQuestions also remain over decisionmaking in Tehran Mojtaba Khamenei who reportedly assumed leadership after his father Ali Khamenei was killed on the first day of the war on February 28 has not appeared in public since reports emerged that he was wounded in a USIsraeli strikeMeanwhile the European Unionrsquos foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged both sides to return to negotiationsSit down to a negotiation table and agree she said adding that the region does not need an escalationWith AFP inputs