Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire after days of intense fighting. The truce took effect early Tuesday morning, but both sides have accused each other of violating the agreement. President Donald Trump played a key role in brokering the ceasefire.
He warned Israel against launching further attacks on Iran, saying “Do not drop those bombs.” Trump expressed displeasure with Israel, stating “These guys [have] got to calm down.”
The Israeli government said it agreed to the US ceasefire proposal at 06:00 GMT on Tuesday. However, hours later, Israel accused Iran of launching missiles towards its territory after the truce began. The Israel Defense Forces reported identifying missiles launched from Iran.
Iran denied firing missiles after the ceasefire took effect. The Iranian military said that “in the final moments before the ceasefire was imposed on the enemy,” it had struck “military and logistical centers” in Israel. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council warned that any Israeli attacks would be “met with a decisive, firm, and timely response.”
Israel initially attacked Iran on June 13, targeting nuclear and military sites.
Israel claimed Iran was close to building a nuclear weapon amid stalled diplomatic talks to curb Iran’s nuclear program.
Israel-Iran ceasefire agreement holds
The US joined the strikes, targeting the Fordo nuclear enrichment facility.
Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful civilian purposes. However, the UN nuclear watchdog recently warned that Iran enriched uranium to near weapons-grade levels, well above civilian needs. US officials claim the strikes have significantly delayed Iran’s nuclear weapon development.
Since the conflict began on June 13, Iran has reported 610 people killed and 4,746 injured from Israeli strikes. Israel has reported 28 deaths, with four killed on Tuesday alone. The situation remains tense as the humanitarian crisis worsens.
Israeli attacks have killed at least 71 people in Gaza, including many seeking aid. One significant attack targeted a school sheltering displaced Palestinians. Adherence to the ceasefire terms by both Iran and Israel will determine if peace holds or if the region sees further conflict.
The world is closely watching to see if the truce remains in effect.
