Live updates: Iran and Israel exchange first attacks since ceasefire, threatening return to all-out war

Israel and Iran engaged in their first direct military exchanges since the April ceasefire, raising fears of a broader regional conflict. The attacks occurred after Israel struck Beirut despite a ceasefire agreement, and Iran responded with strikes on Israeli targets, including a petrochemical facility. U.S. President Donald Trump publicly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to retaliate against Iran, stating he was 'not happy' with earlier Israeli strikes on Lebanon’s capital. Explosions were reported in Tehran and air defenses activated in the city’s western and eastern districts, according to Iranian media, though no casualties were confirmed. Iranian officials later stated no injuries had occurred in Tehran or at a military center in Tabriz following Israeli strikes. Oil prices surged as a result of the escalation, with Brent crude rising $4.51 to $97.60 a barrel and U.S. crude climbing $4.10 to $94.64 a barrel. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, claimed the country was 'exchanging messages' with the U.S. amid 'deep mistrust,' blaming Israel’s actions on American policies. He criticized inconsistent U.S. statements for disrupting diplomatic efforts, warning that recent fighting would further complicate negotiations. Trump had previously suggested the two sides were 'very close' to a deal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though key points remained unresolved. The escalation follows weeks of indirect clashes, with Israel previously targeting Iranian-backed militias in Syria and Lebanon. The latest strikes mark a dangerous shift toward direct confrontation, risking a wider regional war. Iranian officials denied casualties, but the attacks underscore the fragility of the ceasefire and the high stakes in Middle Eastern diplomacy.