Trump Announces Israel Iran Ceasefire Amid Ongoing Conflict

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran is now in effect, urging both parties to adhere to the terms. The ceasefire, which will be phased in over the next 24 hours, aims to bring an "Official END" to the ongoing conflict. Trump's announcement came after Iran launched a limited missile attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites. Iran stated that it would halt its attacks if Israel ceased its aggression by 4 a.m. local time. However, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi clarified that there is no formal agreement on a ceasefire, and the final decision on halting military operations would be made later.

The Israeli military did not immediately acknowledge the ceasefire, and there were no reports of Israeli strikes in Iran after the specified time. Heavy Israeli strikes continued in Tehran and other cities until shortly before 4 a.m. local time. The Israeli military warned that it would continue to attack military sites around Tehran, including symbolic targets such as the headquarters of the military force that suppressed recent protests and Evin prison, known for holding political activists.

The conflict between Israel and Iran has escalated over the past week, with both sides trading airstrikes and missile attacks. The U.S. strikes over the weekend prompted fears of a wider regional conflict, with Iran stating that the U.S. had crossed "a very big red line" with its risky gambit to strike with missiles and 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs. Israel aims to wind down the war in the coming days, but that will depend on the Iranians. Israel's preferred outcome is for Iran to agree to a ceasefire and reenter negotiations with the U.S. over its nuclear program. However, Israel is prepared for the possibility of an extended low-intensity war of attrition or period of "quiet for quiet," in which it would closely monitor Iran's activities and strike if it identifies new threats.

The ceasefire announcement comes as both sides have suffered significant casualties and damage. In Israel, at least 24 people have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded in the war. Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 974 people and wounded 3,458 others. The U.S. has evacuated some 250 American citizens and their immediate family members from Israel by government, military, and charter flights that began over the weekend. There are roughly 700,000 American citizens, most of them dual U.S.-Israeli citizens, believed to be in Israel. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who leads one of Iran’s closest allies, said Monday after meeting in Moscow with the Iranian foreign minister that they had explored “how we can get out of today’s situation.” Putin called the Israeli and American attacks on Iran an “absolutely unprovoked aggression.”