Iran and Israel have announced a pause in hostilities following days of military escalation, though both countries have warned they are prepared to retaliate if the ceasefire breaks down.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would refrain from further attacks on Iran "for now" but stressed that any renewed aggression would trigger a strong response.
“At the moment, the fire is contained,” Netanyahu said in a televised address, adding that Israel had already responded to Iranian strikes and would continue to exercise its right to self-defence.
“If Iran makes the mistake and attacks us again, we will respond forcefully,” he warned.
The comments came after Iranian authorities indicated they would halt strikes against Israel, easing fears of a broader regional conflict.
However, Tehran also issued fresh warnings, saying it would respond severely if Israeli military operations continue elsewhere in the region, particularly in southern Lebanon, where tensions involving Hezbollah remain high.
Iranian parliamentary speaker and senior negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf accused the United States of contributing to recent tensions through what he described as violations linked to a naval blockade.
“Our goal is to end the war and create lasting security, not to normalise relations with the United States,” Qalibaf said in a statement published on Telegram.
He added that Iran did not trust Washington and would continue to resist what it views as attempts to restrict its maritime activities.
Meanwhile, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, criticised new sanctions announced by the European Union, describing them as “hypocritical” and “fraudulent.”
He accused European countries of ignoring what Iran considers hostile actions by the United States and said Tehran would continue to exercise what it views as its sovereign rights in the Strait of Hormuz.
Signs of de-escalation emerged on both sides. The Israeli military announced the easing of restrictions in parts of northern Israel, allowing schools and workplaces in several communities to resume limited activities. Restrictions have been lifted across most of the country.
Iran also signalled a return to normality by reopening its airspace. The head of the country's Civil Aviation Organisation, Abouzar Shiroudi, said flight operations would resume after authorities concluded that military operations had ended.
The pause in fighting follows public calls by US President Donald Trump urging both sides to stop exchanging fire.
Despite the apparent calm, analysts caution that the ceasefire remains fragile. Both governments continue to frame the pause as conditional, with military responses promised if attacks resume.
The latest crisis has highlighted the risk of a wider regional conflict involving multiple actors across the Middle East, even as diplomatic efforts continue to prevent further escalation.