US President Donald Trump announced on social media that Israel and Iran have agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire”, which could potentially bring an end to the 12-day war between the two countries. However, neither Israel nor Iran has publicly confirmed the ceasefire.
The conflict escalated after Iran launched a missile attack on a US airbase in Qatar, which houses US troops, in retaliation for US strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. Qatar’s air defenses successfully intercepted 18 of the 19 missiles fired, with no casualties reported.
Donald Trump has commented on Iran’s recent missile attack, calling it a “very weak response” to the US’s actions against their nuclear facilities. Here’s what he said:
“Iran has officially responded to our Obliteration of their Nuclear Facilities with a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered. There have been 14 missiles fired — 13 were knocked down, and 1 was ‘set free’ because it was headed in a non-threatening direction. I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done. Most importantly, they’ve gotten it all out of their ‘system,’ and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE. I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured. Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same.”
Trump also thanked the Emir of Qatar “for all that he has done in seeking Peace for the Region” and confirmed that no Qataris were killed or wounded in the attack.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would stop its attacks if Israel ceased its aggression against Iranian people.
“Iran launched war on Israel, not the other way around,” Araghchi stated. “Provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 am Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response afterwards.” The Iranian foreign minister’s statement came after Trump’s announcement, leaving uncertainty about the ceasefire’s implementation.
According to reports, the Israeli Defense Forces say Iran has launched several more missiles towards Israel, with the country’s defensive systems operating to intercept the missiles. The public has been instructed to enter protected spaces and remain there until further notice.
The situation on the ground remains volatile, with Israel reporting fresh rounds of missiles fired from Iran and Iran’s state TV announcing the ceasefire, saying it has been “imposed” on Israel following the “successful” Iran attack on the US base in Qatar. State TV also claimed that Trump “begged” for a ceasefire following Iran’s attack.
Some US Democrats have reacted to Trump’s claim with mild praise, with Brett McGurk, former President Joe Biden’s Middle East coordinator, saying, “I give extremely high marks to this national security team and President Trump for managing this crisis.” However, others have expressed skepticism, like Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, who wrote, “I’m glad that President Trump isn’t escalating further… But that doesn’t change the fact that bombing Iran was reckless, unconstitutional, and hurts US credibility to negotiate a permanent, verifiable deal.”
The conflict has resulted in significant damage and loss of life, with Iran reporting over 400 people killed and at least 3,056 wounded since Israel launched its attack on June 13. In Israel, at least 24 people have been killed in Iranian strikes. Analysts suggest Trump’s high-risk strikes may have paid off, at least for now, but the situation in the Middle East remains far from stable.
Key Developments:
- Ceasefire Announcement: Trump’s announcement came after a series of intense exchanges between Israel and Iran, with both countries suffering significant damage and loss of life.
- Iran’s Response: Iran’s foreign minister said if Israel stops its attacks by 04:00 local time, Iran won’t fire back. Israel hasn’t officially responded to claims of a ceasefire agreement.
- Casualties and Damage: Iran reported over 400 people killed and at least 3,056 wounded since Israel launched its attack on June 13. In Israel, at least 24 people have been killed in Iranian strikes.
- Uncertainty Surrounding the Ceasefire: While Trump’s announcement brought hope for a potential end to the conflict, the situation remains uncertain, with neither side publicly confirming the ceasefire.