Netanyahu Fires 100 Strikes at Tehran 50 Minutes After Trump's Pause

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a five-day pause in attacks on Iran, but Israel has continued its strikes on Iran and Lebanon undeterred.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on June 23 (local time), shortly after a phone call with Trump, "I believe there is an opportunity to leverage our war achievements to safeguard core interests," while warning that "there will be more attacks on Iran and Lebanon going forward." In fact, approximately 50 minutes after Trump's pause declaration, Israel launched more than 100 strikes on key military targets including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ground forces command.

The divergence between the U.S. and Israel is expected to be a variable in the ongoing negotiation process. The U.S. plans to maintain the Iranian regime while securing influence over the Strait of Hormuz and energy dominance, whereas Israel prioritizes weakening the Iranian regime.

According to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP), Israel has adhered to a "mowing the lawn" strategy — striking as many targets as possible to weaken the adversary. Israel has continued attacks at the risk of civilian casualties, including homes, hospitals and schools. According to human rights organization HRANA, approximately 1,500 people have been killed in Iran since the war began, including 217 children, while at least 1,029 have died in Lebanon.

Iran's counterattacks have also intensified. According to Iran's state broadcaster IRIB, Iranian forces on the same day launched suicide drone attacks on key Israeli air bases and the Azraq base in Jordan, and struck U.S. military bases in neighboring countries. Bloomberg reported on June 24 that Iran has begun imposing tolls on some commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Some ships have actually paid the tolls, though the vessels' nationalities and payment methods remain unknown. Iran pushed ahead with its existing plans, disregarding Trump's claim that negotiations had begun.

Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that Trump's future decisions will likely influence the trajectory of Israel's attacks. Aaron Miller, a CEIP fellow, said, "At some point, Netanyahu's war objectives against Iran are expected to clash with Trump's need to demand a halt to the war," adding, "When he demands a 'stop,' Netanyahu will reluctantly comply."