In a potential breakthrough that could defuse the most dangerous Middle East conflict in recent memory, U.S. President Donald Trump declared early Tuesday that Iran and Israel have agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire” following nearly two weeks of relentless missile exchanges, airstrikes, and mounting civilian casualties.
The ceasefire—if upheld—would bring a close to the so-called “12-Day War,” which has pushed the region to the brink of a broader conflagration, entangled global powers, and unnerved markets worldwide. Yet, as of early Tuesday morning, ambiguity still clouds the ceasefire’s durability: Iran has conditionally halted its operations, Israel has yet to formally commit, and fresh missile alerts continue to blare across Israeli skies.
In an announcement made via his Truth Social platform, Trump said that the ceasefire would begin in two phases: Iran would halt military operations at 0400 GMT, with Israel to follow 12 hours later. “It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE,” he posted, adding that the world would “salute” the end of hostilities upon the conclusion of a 24-hour wind-down.
This proclamation came just hours after a dramatic escalation in hostilities, with Iran launching ballistic missiles at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar—home to the largest U.S. military presence in the Middle East—in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Qatari officials confirmed that all Iranian missiles were intercepted, and no casualties occurred. However, they called the attack a “flagrant violation” and accused Iran of “blatant aggression,” even as Iran’s leadership insisted the assault was directed at U.S. forces, not Qatar itself.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran ceased operations at 4:00 am local time (0030 GMT), provided Israel reciprocates by halting its “illegal aggression.”
Writing on social media, Araghchi clarified that no formal ceasefire agreement had been signed, but that Iran had “no intention to continue” its retaliatory operations “if the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people.”
He added that Iran’s final missile strike landed precisely at 4am—marking, in his words, “the last minute of just punishment.” As of press time, Tehran’s streets remain both tense and jubilant: while some neighborhoods were rocked by explosions overnight, others saw citizens waving Iranian flags and chanting nationalistic slogans in apparent celebration.
Yet any signs of a ceasefire were quickly undermined by new developments on the ground. Israel’s military confirmed in a statement at 5:00 am local time (0200 GMT) that multiple missiles had been launched from Iranian territory in what was described as the “third round of attacks within the hour.”
“The sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran,” the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) posted on Telegram.
Emergency services responded to hits in southern Israel. Magen David Adom, the national medical service, reported three civilians in critical condition: a man in his 40s, a woman in her 30s, and a 20-year-old male. A further six were injured, including one moderately and five lightly.
Thick smoke was seen rising from residential buildings, and rescue workers described “extensive destruction.” One responder said: “We saw an unconscious man lying at the entrance… Inside, we found more casualties. The trauma is real.”
The fresh Iranian barrage came after the U.S. dramatically escalated the conflict two days prior by striking three key nuclear facilities deep within Iranian territory using advanced bunker-busting munitions. Tehran’s leadership described the strikes as “cowardly and unjustified,” warning that it would respond in kind.
In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted Al Udeid with six ballistic missiles. Though intercepted, the attack represented the first direct Iranian assault on a U.S. installation since the killing of Qasem Soleimani in 2020.
Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group described the strike as “calibrated and performative,” noting that Tehran gave advance notice in an effort to minimize casualties and signal it did not seek escalation with the United States.
Security expert Stephan Fruehling of the Australian National University echoed this sentiment: “This was meant to be symbolic… Iran wants to keep this limited to Israel, not the U.S., because militarily they know escalation would be disastrous.”
In the lead-up to the ceasefire announcement, regional chaos reached fever pitch. Iran launched successive missile strikes, hitting military targets and air defense systems inside Israel, while Israeli aircraft bombarded Tehran, Isfahan, and other key locations.
More than 400 Iranians have died in Israeli attacks since June 13, according to Iran’s health ministry. Israel has suffered at least 24 deaths, many of them civilians caught in urban areas during Iranian retaliations.
At one point, the Israeli Air Force struck over 60 sites in Iran within a 24-hour period. Explosions lit up the skies over Tehran and the northern provinces, with power grids knocked offline and internet access disrupted for millions.
In retaliation, Iran’s IRGC launched short- and medium-range ballistic missiles at Israeli cities, prompting red alerts in Tel Aviv, Ashkelon, and Haifa. For several days, Israeli citizens endured near-continuous shelter-in-place orders as the IDF’s Iron Dome system intercepted wave after wave of incoming projectiles.
Across the globe, leaders welcomed signs of de-escalation with cautious optimism. French President Emmanuel Macron called for an “immediate cessation of violence,” warning that continued hostilities would “plunge the region into irreversible chaos.”
China urged all sides to avoid actions that could “destabilize global energy markets,” while Germany and the UK pushed for a resumption of the now-stalled JCPOA nuclear talks.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement expressing “hope that this ceasefire leads to a long-term diplomatic solution,” and offered UN resources to assist in monitoring any agreements.
But concerns remain. While Iran claims it has ceased strikes unless provoked again, the language from Israeli officials has been markedly ambiguous. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to publicly comment on Trump’s ceasefire announcement.
Privately, however, White House sources told reporters that Netanyahu’s war cabinet had “tentatively agreed” to suspend offensive operations if Iran held fire for the next 12 hours. The IDF remains on high alert.
Iran’s state broadcaster IRINN framed the ceasefire as a “forced surrender” by Israel, and claimed that President Trump had “begged” for peace after the strike on Al Udeid. The state media hailed the IRGC and declared the ceasefire a “triumph of resistance.”
This propaganda push could make it harder for Iran’s leadership to walk back from de-escalation should Israel retaliate once more. Conversely, Israel’s strategic silence may be an intentional hedge—waiting to see if Iran truly halts attacks before committing.
In the absence of binding agreements or third-party verification, the coming hours remain pivotal.
President Trump’s decision to insert the U.S. militarily by striking Iran’s nuclear sites marked a dramatic turning point—one fraught with risk. For critics, it was an unnecessary provocation. For supporters, it was a bold attempt to reset the regional balance.
Trump defended the action, saying it was aimed at preventing Iran from achieving nuclear breakout capability and responding to “imminent threats.”
The airstrikes destroyed underground enrichment facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and near Bushehr. Satellite imagery confirmed widespread structural collapse, triggering international panic over potential radiological leaks—though Iran denied any such danger.
In the aftermath, Trump’s ceasefire move appears to be an attempt to de-escalate while projecting strength. Whether the gamble works depends largely on whether Iran and Israel can resist the gravitational pull of vengeance.
Beyond the geopolitical chessboard lies a sobering human toll. In Iran, hospitals in Tehran, Shiraz, and Mashhad are overwhelmed with blast victims. Funeral processions for fallen IRGC commanders and civilians have flooded social media.
In Israel, towns near the Gaza border and in the Negev region bear scars from missile impacts. Families mourn the loss of loved ones. Children have spent nights in bomb shelters.
The trauma on both sides is likely to endure long after the missiles stop flying.
As the dust settles—if only temporarily—the world watches with bated breath. The proposed ceasefire, however tentative, may offer a rare window for diplomacy.
If it holds, President Trump could claim a rare foreign policy win. If it collapses, the region could spiral into an even wider war with devastating consequences. But in the volatile heart of the Middle East, peace remains a flickering flame—vulnerable to every gust of rage, retaliation, or rhetoric.
