Iran’s state-run media finally confirmed a cease-fire with Israel early Tuesday morning, several hours after President Trump had already declared that a deal was in place. The Israeli government did not immediately respond to the report, though it acknowledged that missile attacks from Iran were ongoing, with at least three fatalities confirmed.
President Trump announced the breakthrough following more than a week of intensifying rocket exchanges between the two nations. His statement came two days after U.S. forces carried out airstrikes on Iranian nuclear targets.
According to Mr. Trump, the cease-fire would roll out in phases starting Tuesday. However, exact details about the agreement’s implementation remained unclear. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi posted online around 4:30 a.m., implying that hostilities had already ceased, stating that Iranian forces had fought “until the very last minute.”
Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces reported that Iran had continued launching missiles at Israel in three successive waves during the early morning. Israel’s emergency response services confirmed that at least three people lost their lives in the new strikes.
Such overlaps between combat and cease-fire announcements are not uncommon, as skirmishes often persist briefly until the full cessation of hostilities is enforced.
President Trump’s declaration followed an Iranian missile barrage targeting Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar — the largest U.S. military facility in the region — in what appeared to be a counter-response to the recent American airstrikes on Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure. U.S. officials noted that Iran had issued advance warnings to minimize harm. The base houses around 10,000 American service members and functions as the operational hub for U.S. Central Command in the Middle East.
Shortly after Trump’s announcement, Vice President JD Vance weighed in, remarking that the conflict seemed to be “effectively over” and emphasizing that a chance now existed to “restart a real peace process.”
Mr. Trump, known for his direct style, used definitive language in his post.
“It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE,” the president wrote on social media. He also clarified that ongoing military activities would need to be wrapped up before the cease-fire would be fully enforced, noting that this process would unfold in stages over the course of the day.
Three senior diplomats, requesting anonymity due to the delicate nature of the discussions, revealed that Qatari leadership played a crucial mediating role. Acting on behalf of the Trump administration, Qatari officials reportedly convinced Tehran to accept the American cease-fire proposal after assurances that Israel had already agreed to it.
{Matzav.com}