Rabiu M. Hamza
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the successful negotiation of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran after nearly two weeks of escalating military conflict that brought the Middle East to the brink of a broader war...
The announcement, made via Trump’s Truth Social platform late Tuesday, came just 24 hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles targeting American military installations in Qatar and Iraq. Iranian state media described the strike as a “powerful” retaliation against recent U.S. attacks on its nuclear infrastructure.
“THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!” Trump declared in all caps, signaling what he characterized as a major diplomatic breakthrough after days of intensive backchannel negotiations.
In a follow-up statement, Trump said: “America stands for peace through strength. After 12 days of intense fighting, we’ve secured a commitment from both sides to halt military operations. This is a major achievement that will save lives and restore calm to the Middle East.”
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Israel Confirms Truce
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed Israel’s compliance with the ceasefire, stating that the country had achieved its military objectives and would now pause hostilities in coordination with Washington.
“Following the achievement of all our military objectives and in full coordination with President Trump, Israel has accepted the proposal for a mutual ceasefire,” Netanyahu said.
He also lauded Trump’s mediation role, describing the former president’s intervention as pivotal in countering the Iranian threat. “Israel thanks President Trump and the United States for their steadfast support and leadership in confronting the Iranian nuclear threat.”
Iran Signals Conditional Compliance
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi indicated Tehran would observe the ceasefire provided Israel halted its military operations.
“If the Zionist regime halts its aggression, Iran will respond in kind,” Araqchi said in a televised statement on Tuesday. Iranian compliance was reportedly scheduled to begin at 4:00 a.m. local time.
Truce Under Threat
However, the fragile ceasefire appeared to be unraveling within hours of its declaration. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz accused Tehran of violating the agreement by launching fresh missiles toward Israeli territory and ordered renewed strikes on military targets in Iran.
“In light of Iran’s blatant violation of the ceasefire declared by President Trump, I have instructed the IDF to continue high-intensity operations targeting regime assets and terror infrastructure in Tehran,” Katz announced.
The Israeli military confirmed it had detected multiple incoming missiles and was engaged in active interception efforts.
Trump Issues Warning
Reacting to the renewed hostilities, Trump issued a stern warning to Tehran: “Iran must respect the ceasefire. Any act of aggression will be met with consequences. Peace is possible—but only if both sides honor their commitments.”
With tensions flaring once again, the durability of the U.S.-brokered truce is now in serious doubt. Analysts warn that any further violations could trigger a dangerous spiral of retaliation, further destabilizing an already volatile region.
As of press time, diplomatic efforts were reportedly ongoing behind the scenes to salvage the ceasefire agreement and prevent a return to full-scale warfare.
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