Trump’s Truce Trounced

By Sue Kientz

A series of events in recent days has led to the near shredding of the U.S.-Israel-Iran truce that had more or less held since April. (1) After Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in southern Lebanon early this past weekend, Iran launched long-range missiles at Israel, spurring Israel to counterattack with missiles at Iran. The disturbing escalation unnerved the entire region with intercepted missiles causing aerial explosions and unexploded bombs found not only in targeted Israel but as far as Syria. Iran’s allies the Houthis added to the fray by also firing at Israel. The outbreak of hostilities elicited panicked messages from U.S. President Trump early Monday morning, June 8, insisting that “[f]inal negotiations on peace are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way.” Iran maintains that any peace deal must include Israel halting attacks on Lebanon, and they specifically blame the U.S. when Israel ignores this demand. 

Why would this past weekend elicit such a fracture in the Middle East crisis, when by all accounts, inhabitants of the countries involved are tired of the fighting and its devastating effect on their economies and quality of life? Astrology has the unique perspective of showing how the untouchable celestials above uncannily align in meaningful designs that point to these outbreaks of violence against a backdrop of continued tension and concern.

Since the beginning of June, Israel and Lebanon have tried to counter the activities of Hezbollah in order to maintain the April ceasefire agreement, (2) except Israel defensively occupied part of southern Lebanon in its efforts to stop Hezbollah drone attacks, and Hezbollah vowed such attacks will continue until Israel retreats. Iran finally lost patience with this fighting and launched missiles at Israel around 10 pm (1900 GMT) on June 7. (3) At that time, the Sun (17 Gemini) was sextile (60 degrees; supportive) Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Pluto (17 Leo) and trine (120 degrees; one feels facilitated) his Moon (19 Libra) (4), encouraging him to pursue his underlying desire (Moon) to use his power (Pluto) to militarily punish Hezbollah forces. However, Mercury (9 Cancer) was square (90 degrees, turning point or crisis) both Iran’s Sun (10 Aries) (5) and Netanyahu’s Mercury (9 Libra) as Iran felt compelled to send a strong message (Mercury: communication) that Israel stop actions in Lebanon. President Trump, his Mercury (8 Cancer) (6) triggered via conjunction (0-6 degrees, new beginning or reaction), was jolted by the Iranian response as was the U.S. in general, with its Sun (13 Cancer) in range of Mercury’s position (7) that indeed led to a U.S. helicopter being shot down on June 8. The pilots luckily were rescued but this action still required U.S. retaliation towards Iran.

As Mercury kept moving, it formed and energized a troublesome grand cross (8) involving Saturn (12 Aries) and dwarf planets Makemake (10 Libra), Quaoar (12 Capricorn) and Ixion (8 Capricorn). This group of slow planets has created a persistent T-square (9) that represents the extreme tension and strife roiling these countries and their leaders. Saturn, representing order, conservative effort, and common sense, has enabled Iran, its Sun under pressure conjunct Saturn, to resist drastic action during the purported peace negotiations, while insisting on respect and good-faith dealings (all Saturn related). But unpredictable and provocative Makemake is causing shocks to Iran’s sensibilities by the erratic hostilities between Lebanon and Israel. (10) Add to that, Ixion, named for a famous mythic lawbreaker, and Quaoar, with traits of dramatic and playful behavior, perfectly describe the central intermediator, Donald Trump, who breaks all the rules (Ixion: ignores rules) of effective protocol with frequent false or suspect statements about how close negotiators are to a deal, how receptive the Iranians are, how much Netanyahu will follow Trump’s lead, almost as if Trump is playing with the different parties, pretending they are close to a deal, perhaps thinking his assertions will intimidate or shame them into accepting the terms he himself desires (Quaoar: plays pranks, acts contrary to the real situation to promote own interests). (11)

Mercury is moving quickly and will soon disengage from the persistent T-square of Saturn-Makemake-Ixion-Quaoar, but Iran, the United States, Donald Trump, and Benjamin Netanyahu will not be free of that T-square’s irritating presence any time soon. Saturn will linger between 8 to 14 Aries until next spring, suggesting Iran will stand firm in its demands (Saturn enforces a hard line), and this will stymie the U.S. and its president, since Trump’s Mercury (8 Cancer) and U.S. Sun (13 Cancer) are placed to get the brunt of Saturn’s transit. Even slower Makemake will roam from 10 to 13 Libra in the next year, with all these countries likely to suffer sporadic fighting and bombs exploding (uncertainty and fireworks are classic Makemake). Ixion and Quaoar can move only a few degrees on either side of their current positions by next year, so continued ineffective or lapsing negotiations seem forecast but nevertheless will be billed as much rosier than they are. Lastly, it’s a good bet that this T-square represents more than just this single arena of trouble for America and its freewheeling president.

Title Image credit: Image described by author to ChatGPT.com

Notes and References

1. Ali, R., and W. Wilde, “Exchange of missile strikes between Israel and Iran threatens fragile ceasefire,” 8 June 2026, PBS, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/exchange-of-missile-strikes-between-israel-and-iran-threatens-fragile-ceasefire
2. Associated Press, “A timeline of the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel over Lebanon,” 8 June 2026, WRIC ABC 8News, https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/ap-a-timeline-of-the-escalating-tensions-between-iran-and-israel-over-lebanon/amp/
3. Al Jazeera Staff, “Iran fires missiles at Israel after Beirut attack ‘crossed all red lines’,” 7 June 2026, Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/7/iran-fires-missiles-at-israel-after-beirut-attack-crossed-all-red-lines
4. Netanyahu, Benjamin, 21 October 1949, 10:30 a.m. EET, Tel Aviv, Israel, Astrodienst, https://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Netanyahu,_Benjamin
5. Iran, 1 April 1979, 10:12 p.m. IRDT, Tehran, Iran (when Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini announced vote results on TV)
6. Trump, Donald J., 14 June 1946, 10:54 a.m., Queens, NY, Birth Cert., Astrodienst, https://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Trump,_Donald  
7. U.S. mundane chart (adoption of Declaration of Independence), 4 July 1776, 5:10 p.m., Philadelphia, PA, Astrodienst, https://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Nation:_USA_No.1
8. A Grand Cross is a major pattern comprised of four or more points at roughly 90 degrees equidistant from each other; this dynamic interaction can create stress, but also prompts action and motivates growth.
9. A T-Square is a dynamic pattern composed of two or more planets in opposition (180 degrees), each squared (90 degrees) a third. It represents stress and conflict, with the fulcrum point (at the square) offering a possibility of resolution.
10. Kientz, S., “Watch out, it’s Makemake!,” the Makemake chapter from More Plutos that appeared in the Astrological Journal, Nov./Dec. 2014 issue; https://moreplutos.com/articles/Makemake-SueKientz_AstrologicalJournal-Nov-Dec2014.pdf
11. See Ixion’s and Quaoar’s astrological keywords and examples of historical figures at “Dwarf Planet Basics,” 6 November 2024, Astrology News Service, https://astrologynewsservice.com/articles/dwarf-planet-basics/

For more details about the angles or relationships between planets, see Lynne Hyde’s “Astrology Basics,” 12 November 2024, ANS, https://astrologynewsservice.com/articles/astrology-basics/