 "How Trump’s ceasefire between Israel and Iran is on shaky grounds")
On Monday (June 23), US President Donald Trump made the shocking announcement that Iran and Israel had agreed to a “complete and total” ceasefire, effectively ending the ‘12-day war’. However, even as he made the announcement, many people asked — will it hold?
And hours within Israel agreeing to the truce, it seems like it has all blown up with the Jewish nation claiming that Tehran has launched missiles.
Catch the live updates from the Iran-Israel ceasefire here
We analyse what’s currently happening.
Trump announces Iran-Israel ceasefire
Just two hours after Iran launched strikes at US’ Al Udeid base in Qatar , seen as a response to the American bombing of three nuclear sites, US President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social that Iran and Israel had agreed to a staggered ceasefire.
In his post, he wrote that the ceasefire would be a phased 24-hour process Tuesday, with Iran unilaterally halting all operations. Israel would follow suit 12 hours later.
“Upon the 24th hour, an official end to the 12-day war will be saluted by the world,” he said, adding that both sides had agreed to remain ‘peaceful and respectful” during each phase of the process.
According to a White House official, Trump brokered the ceasefire through talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while his team, including Vice President JD Vance, held talks with Tehran. The official, providing details of the ceasefire, said Israel agreed to it so long as Iran does not launch fresh attacks. Iran signalled that no further attacks would take place, the official said.
Trump also said that the two sides would take at least six hours to wind down “final missions.”
‘Achieved all our goals’
Hours after Trump’s announcement, the Israel government declared that it had agreed to the US president’s proposal after it achieved its goal of removing Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile threat.
“Israel thanks President Trump and the United States for their support in defence and their participation in eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat,” read a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
“In light of the achievement of the operation’s goals, and in full coordination with President Trump, Israel agreed to the president’s proposal for a mutual ceasefire,” the statement added.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the Security Cabinet last night, together with the Defense Minister, the IDF Chief-of-Staff and the Director of the Mossad, in order to report that Israel has achieved all of the objectives of Operation Rising Lion, and much more.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) June 24, 2025
The Israeli prime minister also said Israel would respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire.
Iran’s flip flop amid a barrage of missiles
Initially, as news broke of Trump’s ceasefire, Tehran said that it had not agreed to any such deal, contradicting the US president’s declaration.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that there was no ceasefire agreement with Israel as of now, but if it stopped its attacks then Tehran would also stop firing. “As of now, there is no ‘agreement’ on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X at 4:16 am Tehran time. “However, 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.”
He then hinted hostilities might have ended when he posted, “The military operations of our powerful Armed Forces to punish Israel for its aggression continued until the very last minute, at 4am. Together with all Iranians, I thank our brave Armed Forces who remain ready to defend our dear country until their last drop of blood, and who responded to any attack by the enemy until the very last minute.”
Later, Iranian state media reported that the country agreed to a ceasefire with Israel. “The Sepah (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) successful missile operations in response to US aggression and the exemplary steadfastness and unity of our dear people in defending our land, has imposed ceasefire on the enemy,” the state-run Iran National News Network said in a broadcast.
Notably, Iran fired six missile barrages in quick succession at Israel in the final hours before the intended start of the ceasefire. Four people were killed and at least 22 others were injured as a result of the attack.
Missiles repeatedly targeted Israel’s centre, north and south, setting off sirens and sending millions of Israelis to bomb shelters. Two missiles were fired at Beersheba in a salvo, with one being intercepted and another striking the sixth floor of an apartment complex in the southern city, causing extensive destruction, including collapsing part of the building. Other buildings nearby were also damaged.
Ceasefire comes into effect, but…
After Iran fired its last barrage of missiles, the ceasefire came into effect with Trump writing on Truth Social, “The ceasefire is now in effect. Please do not violate it!”
But two-and-a-half hours after the truce came into effect, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported two missiles fired from Iran. “Two missiles were launched from Iran and they were intercepted,” a military official told AFP.
Sirens sounded in northern Israel and explosions could be heard as Israeli air defences fired.
Following the rockets, Israel’s defence minister said that he has instructed the military to “respond forcefully to Iran’s violation of the ceasefire with intense strikes against regime targets in the heart of Tehran”.
However, Iranian state media denied Israel’s accusation, saying Tehran had not launched any rocket attack. Even Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces Abdolrahim Mousavi denied firing any missiles towards Israel.
It seems we will have to wait and watch to see how things unfold further.
With inputs from agencies
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