In a latest turn on events in West Asia, there seems to be a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel as both reportedly violated ceasefire protocols after officially agreeing to it.
Iran's military denied firing on Israel, state media reported even though, according to Israel explosions and sirens were heard across the country on Tuesday morning. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called the missiles a violation of the ceasefire and instructed Israel's military to resume "the intense operations to attack Tehran and to destroy targets of the regime and terror infrastructure."
Hours after Iran attacked US airbases in Qatar and Iraq, President Donald Trump announced that Iran and Israel have agreed upon a ceasefire which will be phased over 24 hours. Israel PMO issued a statement agreeing to the ceasefire 'brokered' by Trump and Iran state TV acknowledged the agreement following the timeline.
Trump Announces Ceasefire Timeline
US President Donald Trump in a social media post declared that Israel and Iran have agreed for ceasefire in the next 24 hours.
His post read, “CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!), for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!
“Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World. During each CEASEFIRE, the other side will remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL.
“On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, “THE 12 DAY WAR.”
“This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will! God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!”
Iranian TV Flashes 'Ceasefire Has Begun'
The immediate response of Iran to Trump's announcement of ceasefire came in form of denial.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says there is no agreement on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations as of now.
“However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 am Tehran time [00:30 GMT], we have no intention to continue our response afterwards,” he wrote on X.
“The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later.”
Iran state TV news channel IRINN called the ceasefire “imposed” on Israel following the “successful” Iran attack on the US base in Qatar.
State TV reportedly said in a statement that Trump “begged” for a ceasefire following Iran’s attack. The statement was read aloud by the presenter, reported Al Jazeera.
The statement also hailed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Army and praised the “resistance” of Iranians.
The statement also called Iran’s attack on the US base in Qatar as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' “successful” response to the US attacking three Iranian nuclear sites, while Qatar said all missiles were intercepted.
Approximately six hours later following the timeline given by Trump, Press TV said the ceasefire between Israel and Iran 'has begun' following several waves of attacks on Israeli territory.
The barrage, which Iran described as a "proportionate response" to recent U.S. attacks on its nuclear infrastructure, reportedly marked the end of what Tehran has referred to as its "final retaliatory mission."
Israel PMO Issues Statement
Israel has officially confirmed that it has agreed to the US proposal for a bilateral ceasefire with Iran while mentioning that they will “respond forcefully” to any violations of the truce.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office issued a statement few minutes back informing that he met with the cabinet, the defense minister, the IDF chief of staff and the head of the Mossad “to report that Israel had achieved all of the objectives of Operation Rising Lion, and much more.”
“Israel has removed a dual immediate existential threat – both in the nuclear and ballistic missile fields,” the statement read.
According to Times Of Israel, the statement further read, “the IDF achieved full air control over Tehran’s skies, inflicted severe damage on the military leadership, and destroyed dozens of central Iranian government targets.”
The statement also announced for the first time that another senior nuclear scientist was killed.
“Even in the past day, the IDF dealt major blows to regime targets in the heart of Tehran, eliminated hundreds of Basij operatives, the regime’s oppression apparatus, and assassinated another senior nuclear scientist,” it said.
“Israel thanks President Trump and the United States for their support in defense and their participation in eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat,” the statement read.
“In light of the achievement of the operation’s objectives, and in full coordination with President Trump, Israel has agreed to the president’s proposal for a bilateral ceasefire,” the PMO said, adding that Israel “will respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire.”
Also Read | Will Russia Or China Come To Iran’s Aid?
Alleged Ceasefire Violation
An Israeli official told Times Of Israel, “Iran broke the ceasefire,” and added, “it will pay.”
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, in an ongoing assessment, stated. “in light of the grave violation of the ceasefire by the Iranian regime, we will strike with force."
Israel claimed that Iran launched two ballistic missiles shortly after a ceasefire with Tehran was announced. Israel confirmed that both the missiles were intercepted.
Defense Minister Israel Katz says he has instructed the IDF to “respond forcefully to Iran’s violation of the ceasefire with intense strikes against regime targets in the heart of Tehran.”
Iran’s ISNA news agency dismissed the reports claiming that Iran fired missiles at Israel after the ceasefire took effect, calling it 'false'. The general staff of Iran’s armed forces has denied the Israeli claim that it launched missiles at Israel over the past few hours in a short statement carried by state media.
Background
Iran launched missile strikes targeting US military bases in Qatar and Iraq late Monday night, firing ten missiles at the Al Udeid base in Qatar and one at a US facility in Iraq.
All missiles were reportedly intercepted, with no casualties or damage confirmed so far. Tehran described the strikes as a proportionate response, pointing to the recent U.S. assault on its nuclear facilities, and saying that they had used the same number of bombs that the US had used this weekend.
Moreover, soon after the Iranian action, Axios, a US news portal, posted on X, quoting unidentified official sources in the Trump Administration as saying, "Iran coordinated its attack on Al Udeid Air Base with Qatar, and the Trump administration was aware of the threat in advance."
Iraqi army spokesperson Sabah Al-Naaman in a statement called the attacks a "treacherous and cowardly act of aggression" and said they had damaged radar systems at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, and at Imam Ali Base in Dhi Qar province. Iraqi forces shot down drones at other locations, he said.
Since the last 12 days of conflict between Iran and Israel, at least 28 people have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded in Israel. Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 974 people and wounded 3,458 others, according to the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists.
