“The ceasefire is now in effect, please do not violate it!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump announced that a ceasefire was struck between Israel and Iran, set to unfold over 24 hours with a halt in Iranian military operations first, followed by Israel halting its strikes 12 hours later.
The US president also said that both Israel and Iran approached him to call for peace. “I knew the time was NOW. The World, and the Middle East, are the real WINNERS! Both Nations will see tremendous LOVE, PEACE, AND PROSPERITY in their futures,” he added, calling on both countries to avoid violating the ceasefire.
“The future for Israel and Iran is UNLIMITED, and filled with great PROMISE. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH!” Trump stated.
In response, Iran’s foreign minister denied a ceasefire agreement having been brokered, but said that Tehran will cease hostilities if Israel does so.
“As of now, there is NO ‘agreement’ on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations. 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,” Abbas Araghchi said.
He noted that Tehran will make a final decision to cease its military operations “later.”
Both countries continued exchanging strikes in the aftermath of Trump’s ceasefire announcement, with Israeli rescuers reporting that three people were killed in an Iranian strike while explosions continued to rock Tehran.
A few hours later, the Israeli air force said it attacked “missile launch pads” in western Iran “that were ready to launch towards Israeli territory.”
On Monday, Iran carried out retaliatory missile strikes on the al-Udeid base in Qatar, the largest American military base in the Middle East. The strikes were dismissed as “very weak” by Trump.
The attack came a day after Trump ordered strikes on three key Iranian nuclear sites – Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz.
Tensions between Israel and Iran skyrocketed on June 13, when Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, killing a number of nuclear scientists and senior military commanders. In response, Tehran launched several waves of missile and drone attacks against Israeli targets.
At least 400 people have been killed by the Israeli strikes in Iran, according to Tehran’s health ministry, and 24 people have been killed in Iran’s retaliatory attacks, according to official Israeli figures.
