Iran, Israel Trade Fire Despite Trump’s Announcement of ‘Total Ceasefire’

News Desk

Tehran: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi early Tuesday denied the existence of any formal ceasefire agreement with Israel, even as former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed both countries had agreed to a staggered halt in hostilities.

“There is no ‘agreement’ on a ceasefire,” Araghchi said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. However, he added that Iran had no intention of continuing military operations if Israel ceased what he termed its “illegal aggression” against the Iranian people by 4:00 a.m. Tehran time (0030 GMT) on Tuesday.

“The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later,” Araghchi said, noting that Iranian military strikes continued up to the announced deadline. “The military operations of our powerful Armed Forces to punish Israel for its aggression continued until the very last minute, at 4am,” he added.

The remarks came shortly after Trump announced that Iran and Israel had agreed to a phased ceasefire aimed at ending nearly two weeks of escalating conflict. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed both sides had reached a “Complete and Total CEASEFIRE.”

He outlined a 24-hour timeline beginning at 0400 GMT Tuesday, with Iran halting operations first and Israel following 12 hours later. “Upon the 24th hour, an official end to the 12-day war will be saluted by the world,” he wrote, adding that both countries had agreed to remain “peaceful and respectful” during the de-escalation phase.

However, shortly after the ceasefire timeline began, explosions continued to rock Tehran. AFP journalists in the Iranian capital reported some of the strongest blasts since the conflict began on June 13, when Israel launched preemptive strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites.

The ongoing hostilities raised fresh alarm among global leaders already concerned about the potential for a broader regional conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron urged an end to “the spiral of chaos,” while China warned of grave economic consequences if the violence spreads.

Missile Strikes and Escalation

Tensions further escalated when Iran launched missiles at the U.S.-operated Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American military installation in the region. Trump, in his remarks, downplayed the attack, calling it “very weak” and noting that Tehran had provided advance warning.

Iran’s National Security Council confirmed the missile barrage was a response to U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend. The statement emphasized that Iran had deliberately matched the number of missiles to the bombs used by the U.S., framing the move as “calibrated” rather than escalatory.

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“This was calibrated and telegraphed in a way that would not result in any American casualties, so that there is an off-ramp for both sides,” said Ali Vaez, senior advisor at the International Crisis Group.

The US had entered the fray after supporting Israel’s military campaign, bombing an underground uranium enrichment facility and two other nuclear sites inside Iran on Saturday night.

Qatar Reacts to ‘Blatant Aggression’

Despite Iranian claims that the attack was aimed solely at U.S. targets, Qatar condemned the missile strikes as “blatant aggression” and said it reserved the right to respond proportionally.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that six missiles, including short- and medium-range ballistic types, had struck Al Udeid. The base had been evacuated prior to the attack, according to Qatari authorities. AFP journalists in Doha and Lusail reported hearing loud blasts and witnessing projectiles streaking across the sky.

In response to the regional instability, Qatar temporarily closed its airspace, and the U.S. embassy along with other foreign missions urged citizens to shelter in place.

Human Toll Mounts

The Iranian health ministry reported over 400 casualties from Israeli airstrikes since the beginning of the conflict. Meanwhile, 24 people have died in Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Israel, according to official figures.

Late Monday night, the Israeli military issued warnings to residents in parts of central Tehran, urging evacuation as it targeted what it called “the Iranian regime’s military infrastructure.”

Despite the uncertainty around a formal ceasefire, images broadcast on Iranian state TV showed crowds in Tehran celebrating what they perceived as successful strikes, waving flags and chanting slogans such as “Death to America.”

As both nations continue their retaliatory exchanges, the world watches anxiously for signs of meaningful de-escalation.