Former President Donald Trump unleashed a fiery tirade Thursday night, condemning both Iran and Israel for what he called a “total disaster” in their latest ceasefire agreement, which collapsed amid renewed cross-border attacks.
Speaking at a rally in Phoenix, Arizona, Trump accused both nations of “lying to the world” and “disrespecting the art of the deal,” just hours after reports emerged of drone strikes and missile fire exchanged near the Israel-Lebanon border and in western Iran.
“They said they wanted peace. I don’t believe them. Israel, Iran — they broke it in a matter of days. You can’t trust weak leadership on either side,” Trump declared to a crowd of supporters. “When I was in charge, we had strength, not chaos.”
The ceasefire, brokered just one week earlier with the support of the United Nations and regional mediators, was hailed as a rare diplomatic breakthrough following months of escalated conflict. But tensions reignited Wednesday night after Iran accused Israel of launching a targeted strike on a military installation in Khuzestan Province — a claim Israel has neither confirmed nor denied. In response, Iranian proxies in southern Lebanon launched rockets toward Israeli settlements.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) responded with retaliatory airstrikes, prompting fears that the region could spiral back into all-out conflict.
Trump, known for his strong pro-Israel stance during his presidency, surprised many by also placing blame on Israeli leadership.
“Netanyahu has been playing games, and Iran’s regime is playing with fire. I warned them both — don’t mess it up. But they did. Terrible negotiators,” he added. “The world needs strength, not weakness. If I were president, this wouldn’t have happened. Period.”
The Biden administration, which had supported the ceasefire through backchannel diplomacy, has so far remained cautious in its public statements. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for “immediate de-escalation” and warned both sides of “severe consequences” if civilian lives continue to be endangered.
