A ceasefire between Iran and Israel came into effect on Tuesday, following 12 days of conflict marked by U.S. strikes targeting nuclear facilities and Iranian retaliation against an American base in Qatar.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who was the first to announce the ceasefire agreement, urged Israel not to “drop bombs” on Iran, stating that such actions would constitute a “significant violation” of the truce.
Trump accused both parties of breaching the ceasefire, claiming that neither Iran nor Israel “knows what they are doing.”
However, he stressed that the ceasefire he announced is “in effect” between both nations.
Each country asserted its right to retaliate against any infringements by the opposing side. By Tuesday morning, no sirens were heard in Israel, while the Iranian military reported the last Israeli strikes early that day.
On Tuesday morning, Israel confirmed its acceptance of the U.S.-proposed ceasefire, stating it achieved “all objectives” in its military operation launched on June 13 aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran, for its part, declared that it had taught Israel a “lesson” and had single-handedly forced a halt to the conflict, proudly claiming “victory” while maintaining that it remained “on alert” to respond to any aggression.
Just moments before the ceasefire took effect, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced it had targeted military and logistical centers in Israel, delivering “an unforgettable historical lesson” to the enemy.
Iranian President Masoud Bezhakian vowed that his country would respect the ceasefire. In a phone call with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, he noted, “If the Zionist regime does not violate the ceasefire, Iran will not breach it either,” according to the Iranian presidency.
Tehran denies any intentions to develop a nuclear bomb and defends its right to a civilian nuclear program. It had responded to Israeli attacks with a series of missile and drone strikes against Israel.
Sirens were heard in northern Israel on Tuesday morning, but Tehran denied launching missiles after the ceasefire was announced. An Israeli military source reported intercepting two missiles launched from Iran. Later in the afternoon, Iranian media reported explosions in northern Iran, the causes of which remain unclear.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a statement saying, “I have instructed the Israeli military to respond strongly to any Iranian violations of the ceasefire and to target strongholds of the regime in the heart of Tehran.”
Achieving Goals
An Israeli government statement revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed his cabinet that Israel had “achieved all of its goals in the Rising Lion operation and exceeded them.”
According to the government statement, Israel has eliminated the “dual existential threat” posed by Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missiles during its conflict.
The statement confirmed Israel’s acceptance of President Trump’s ceasefire proposal, but warned that the country “will respond forcefully” to any breaches.
Later, Netanyahu’s office clarified that Israel had “refrained” from conducting further strikes against Iran after discussions with the U.S. President.
A source familiar with the negotiations in Doha noted that Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani persuaded Iran to agree to the ceasefire based on a U.S. proposal.
This agreement followed attacks on the U.S. Al Udeid military base in Qatar, which were executed by Iran in retaliation for a U.S. strike over the weekend on three major Iranian nuclear facilities.
The source added that the Qatari Prime Minister reached out to the Iranians at Washington’s request.
On Monday, Trump announced that Iran and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire that would lead to the “official end” of the war.
He wrote on his platform, “Truth Social,” “The ceasefire is now in effect. Please do not violate it!”
There have been increasing calls for respect of the ceasefire. International leaders also urged an end to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The German Chancellor stated that “the time has come” for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Everybody is Tired
Before the ceasefire announcement, two waves of Iranian missiles targeted Israel on Tuesday morning, according to Iranian state media.
The Israeli emergency services reported four fatalities, mostly in Beersheba in southern Israel, where a residential building was destroyed.
In Iran, bombings in the northern Gilan province resulted in nine deaths and the destruction of four residential buildings, according to the Fars news agency, prior to the ceasefire announcement.
An Iranian scientist connected to the nuclear program was reportedly killed in an Israeli strike, according to official media.
Fars reported that an Israeli strike on Monday resulted in the death of the “head of the intelligence unit in the Basij forces,” which is affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard.
The conflict has claimed the lives of at least 610 individuals and injured over 4,700 in Iran, according to official civilian casualty reports. In Israel, 28 individuals have died due to the war, according to local authorities.
Since June 13, Israel has bombed hundreds of military and nuclear sites, killing high-ranking officials and scientists involved in Tehran’s nuclear program. Experts believe that nuclear materials were transferred from Iranian facilities before the U.S. strikes.
Iran is enriching uranium at 60%, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. To create a nuclear bomb, uranium must be enriched to 90%. A 2015 agreement limited uranium enrichment for Iran to 3.67%.
Measured Response
On Monday, the U.S. President called for “peace” after Iran targeted the Al Udeid American base in Qatar, which is the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East.
Trump deemed the Iranian response as “very weak” and was keen to “thank Iran” for “notifying” the U.S. in time to avoid casualties.
On Tuesday, Trump expressed that he does not seek to “change the regime” in Iran, despite hinting in recent days that a regime change in Iran was a possibility.