A ceasefire between Israel and Iran officially came into effect early Tuesday morning following nearly two weeks of escalating hostilities, with U.S. President Donald Trump mediating the agreement and Qatar reportedly playing a key facilitative role.
The Israeli government released a formal statement confirming it had agreed to the ceasefire based on a proposal from President Trump. “In light of achieving the operation’s goals and in full cooperation with President Trump, Israel agreed to the president’s proposal of a ceasefire by both sides,” the statement read.
Israel declared that its military had met its objectives, which included neutralizing threats in Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and achieving full air dominance over Tehran. The statement also noted severe damage to Iranian military infrastructure and central government targets.
“Israel will respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire,” the government warned.
Final Strikes Before CeasefireIn the hours leading up to the truce, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched five waves of missile attacks targeting Israeli cities and military installations. According to Iranian state media, 11 missiles were fired in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Iranian soil, including high-profile targets in Tehran.
One of the attacks hit a residential building in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, killing four and injuring more than 20, according to Israel’s emergency service MDA. Additional impacts were reported in Tel Aviv and Haifa, with damage also observed at the Ramat David Air Base.
Iranian state media reported the deaths of two nuclear scientists in Israeli strikes: Mohammad Reza Siddiqi and Seyyed Mostafa Sadati Armaki. The latter was reportedly killed along with his entire family in Kashan. Meanwhile, semi-official Iranian news outlet Tasnim stated that nine people were killed and over 30 injured in western Gilan province during Israeli airstrikes that destroyed multiple residential buildings.
The Israeli military claimed its fighter jets destroyed multiple missile storage sites and launch platforms in western Iran that were preparing for another wave of attacks.
U.S. Involvement and Trump’s StatementPresident Trump attributed the breakthrough in ceasefire negotiations to a precise military operation carried out by U.S. B-2 stealth bombers, which targeted three key Iranian nuclear sites — Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan — over the weekend.
“We couldn’t have made today’s 'deal' without the talent and courage of our great B-2 pilots,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He called the airstrike a “perfect hit” that catalyzed the ceasefire process.
The U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities occurred after Iran had responded to Israeli actions by launching its own missile attacks and escalating tensions across the region. Tehran responded to the U.S. strikes with a missile attack on the American Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Monday. No casualties or major damage were reported.
Trump said the ceasefire would unfold in phases: Iran would halt operations first, Israel would follow 12 hours later, and a full end to hostilities would be declared after 24 hours. The U.S. president later confirmed the ceasefire had taken effect, writing, “THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!”
Regional Mediation and UncertaintyQatar was reportedly involved in mediating the ceasefire agreement, although the extent of its role remains unclear. Israeli media credited Qatari diplomatic channels with helping facilitate communications between the involved parties.
While Israel has confirmed the agreement, Iranian authorities have yet to issue an official statement acknowledging the ceasefire. Iranian media, however, reported that missile salvos ceased as part of what they referred to as a “final response,” suggesting at least partial compliance with the deal.
The truce concludes what Israeli media has called “The 12-Day War,” marked by unprecedented direct confrontation between Israel and Iran, significant regional escalations, and the rare use of U.S. strategic bombers in support of allied operations.
Despite the truce, both sides remain on high alert. The Israeli government reiterated that any breach of the ceasefire would trigger a swift military response. In turn, Iran’s silence leaves open questions about the stability and longevity of the agreement.
The coming days are expected to test the effectiveness of the ceasefire as international actors monitor developments closely and assess the risk of renewed confrontation.