After nearly two weeks of intense missile exchanges, Iran and Israel have reportedly reached a ceasefire agreement, following a final barrage of missiles launched by Tehran. The truce was brokered with the involvement of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Tuesday that his government had accepted the ceasefire proposal initiated by Trump. Iranian state media had already reported that the ceasefire had begun. In a social media post, Trump announced, “The ceasefire is now in effect. Please do not violate it!”
While Netanyahu warned that Israel would retaliate strongly if the truce was broken, the agreement brings cautious optimism for de-escalation after a sharp rise in hostilities—including U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and Iran’s retaliation on a U.S. base in Qatar.
Netanyahu stated, “In full coordination with President Trump and after achieving our mission’s objectives, Israel has accepted the ceasefire proposal.”
Hostilities appeared to subside early Tuesday after Iran reportedly launched six waves of missiles, ending just before the 07:30 GMT deadline. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi noted that the strikes continued until the last moment before the truce.
According to Israeli officials and emergency services, several people were killed in the attacks. Soon after, Israeli citizens were told they could exit missile shelters as no new attacks were reported.
In response to the ceasefire, opposition leader Yair Lapid urged the Israeli government to now focus on ending the ongoing 20-month conflict with Hamas in Gaza, saying, “Now Gaza. End the war. Bring the hostages home.”
However, critics within Netanyahu’s own Likud party voiced concerns. Dan Illouz declared that Iran’s regime cannot be trusted and must be defeated to prevent future threats.
Tensions had escalated on June 13 when Israel launched strikes over fears that Iran was nearing nuclear weapons capability. U.S. strikes followed, targeting nuclear sites including Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz.
Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has requested access to Iran’s nuclear sites to verify the location of its enriched uranium. Speculation persists that Iran may have relocated its nuclear material before the attacks.
Iran’s Atomic Energy Chief Mohammad Eslami said on Tuesday that assessments are ongoing regarding the damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Plans are underway to restore operations and maintain continuity of services, according to a report by Reuters.
With inputs from the Al Jazeera
