Israel has launched new military strikes against sites in western and central Iran, despite reported efforts by US President Donald Trump to prevent further escalation, raising new concerns about the possibilities for a negotiated resolution to the confrontation between Washington and Iran.

The latest attacks came only hours after Trump publicly stated that renewed military action would not disrupt ongoing peace talks with Iran and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not have authority over diplomacy.

Trump expressed confidence that a deal remained within reach despite the latest hostilities. “It’s not going to have any impact on the deal,” Trump stated. “I call the shots. I call all the shots. He doesn’t call the shots.”

However, shortly after those remarks, the Israeli military declared that it had commenced airstrikes on Iranian military sites.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards later acknowledged the assaults, claiming Israel employed air-launched ballistic missiles against targets within the country.

The exchange of attacks is just another escalation in a conflict that has already entered its fourth month and has hindered diplomatic efforts to secure a truce and broader political settlement.

The latest development also rocked global energy markets, with oil prices jumping by more than 3%. Benchmark Brent crude surpassed $96 per barrel as investors responded to rising unrest in one of the world’s most important energy-producing regions.

Meanwhile, Iran replied by releasing another salvo of missiles against Israeli territory. Iranian military officials confirmed that the attacks targeted Ramat David Air Base in Nazareth.

The Israeli military confirmed that missiles were launched from Iran, but said the country’s air defence systems stopped the approaching projectiles before they could inflict substantial damage.

The latest military confrontation comes despite allegations that Trump personally advised Netanyahu to forgo further strikes.

According to reports, Trump reminded the Israeli leader over the phone that the US was on the verge of making a breakthrough in discussions with Tehran and that further assaults may imperil progress. “We are close to doing something good in terms of a deal,” Trump reportedly told Netanyahu during the call.

An Israeli official confirmed that the two leaders spoke for about thirty minutes, but neither the White House nor Netanyahu’s administration have publicly divulged the details of the conversation.

United States and Iran have spent recent weeks negotiating a resolution to the dispute that arose following joint American-Israeli military operations against Iranian targets earlier this year.

Although both sides have stated that progress has been achieved, significant differences remain about sanctions, regional security arrangements, and Iran’s nuclear program.

Trump has consistently stated that diplomacy is his preferred option, but has accompanied this message with threats of additional military action if negotiations fail. “We’re very close to a deal, or I’m going to blow the hell out of them,” Trump said during an interview.

The US President is also under increasing political pressure to bring the dispute to an end, as rising fuel costs continue to hurt American consumers and businesses.

The Strait of Hormuz, which historically transports nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies, is at the heart of the negotiations.

Since tensions rose earlier this year, Iran has dramatically hindered shipping via the key canal, while the US has placed restrictions on Iranian ports.

Tehran has requested significant concessions as part of any peace agreement, including the removal of sanctions, access to billions of dollars in frozen assets, and recognition of its power over Gulf marine lanes.

Iranian authorities have also cautioned that sustained military pressure may jeopardise diplomatic attempts.

Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, the speaker of parliament, recently declared that as long as what he called hostile acts persisted, both Israeli assets and American military installations remained valid targets.

Lebanon Front Continues to Complicate Peace Efforts

The broader regional conflict has also intensified tensions in neighbouring Lebanon, where tensions between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement continues despite several ceasefire initiatives.

Earlier, Hezbollah announced that it had launched two separate attacks against Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon, including near the strategically important Beaufort Castle area.

Lebanese security officials also reported that Israeli aircraft simultaneously carried out airstrikes against several towns across the south of the country.

The violence threatens to undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts because Tehran has repeatedly insisted that any comprehensive agreement with Washington must include a lasting ceasefire in Lebanon.

Iran maintains that the conflicts are interconnected, while Israeli officials argue that military operations against Hezbollah should remain separate from negotiations involving Tehran.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem recently rejected a U.S.-brokered arrangement between Israel and the Lebanese government aimed at reducing hostilities, arguing that the deal failed to guarantee a complete Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

Israel has continued its operations regardless of diplomatic pressure, insisting that Hezbollah remains a security threat that must be confronted.

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a key Hezbollah ally, has indicated that the group could consider withdrawing from southern Lebanon if Israeli forces simultaneously leave occupied areas.

Despite multiple ceasefire initiatives backed by Washington, violence continues across several fronts, including Lebanon, Gaza, northern Israel and parts of the Gulf region.