WASHINGTON,— U.S. President Donald Trump declared that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran had taken effect on Tuesday, following a series of missile attacks from Tehran that killed four people in the Israeli city of Beersheba, according to emergency responders.
“The ceasefire is now in effect. Please do not violate it!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account on Tuesday, shortly after the last reported missile strikes hit Israeli territory.
The ceasefire came after nearly two weeks of military confrontation between the two countries, triggered by coordinated Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend.
Israel’s armed forces said Iran launched six separate missile volleys early Tuesday. Israel’s national ambulance service confirmed the deaths of four civilians in Beersheba.
Witnesses reported loud explosions in multiple locations, including areas near Tel Aviv, in the hours before the truce was publicly announced.
Iran’s semi-official SNN agency said the missile launches were completed before the ceasefire deadline and were the final phase of its response to attacks on its nuclear infrastructure.
A White House official stated that Trump brokered the deal through a direct call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel reportedly agreed to halt operations provided Iran did not resume attacks.
In his social media post, Trump praised both governments, writing: “On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both countries, Israel and Iran, on having the stamina, courage, and intelligence to end, what should be called, ‘THE 12 DAY WAR.’”
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran accepted a pause in hostilities on the condition that Israel ceased “aggression” against Iranian territory by 4:00 a.m. local time Tuesday.
He noted that Iran’s final decision regarding military de-escalation would depend on Israeli actions in the immediate hours after the deadline.
“The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later,” Araqchi said on social media platform X.
The confrontation escalated after Israel and the United States jointly conducted airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, including underground installations.
U.S. officials claimed Iran was nearing the capacity to build a nuclear weapon, a charge Tehran denies. Iran’s leadership insists its nuclear program is for civilian use only.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said earlier that, while Iran has no current intention to develop nuclear arms, “no one could stop us if we chose to.”
Israel, widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, has not confirmed or denied having such capabilities. It is not a signatory to the international Non-Proliferation Treaty.
According to a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani played a central role in securing Iranian agreement to the truce during a phone conversation with officials in Tehran.
White House officials also confirmed that Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff maintained contact with Iranian intermediaries throughout the crisis.
Sources familiar with Israeli cabinet deliberations said several senior officials signaled readiness to end operations inside Iran, pending confirmation that the missile strikes had ceased.
Netanyahu reportedly instructed ministers to refrain from public statements, as reported by Israel’s Channel 12.
Financial markets responded positively to the announcement, with energy prices stabilizing and regional equities recovering some recent losses.
On Monday, Trump had already hinted at progress in diplomatic efforts, expressing gratitude to Iran for what he described as advance warning of its missile retaliation against a U.S. air base in Qatar. The base was struck by 14 missiles, according to Trump, though no injuries were reported.
Trump characterized the attack as a “very weak response” and claimed it had been “effectively countered.”
Tehran’s approach to the retaliation appeared designed to avoid spiraling escalation. Analysts said the Iranian leadership sought to signal strength domestically while avoiding a broader military confrontation.
Over the weekend, U.S. military aircraft dropped bunker-buster bombs on Iranian nuclear targets, joining Israeli forces in coordinated strikes. Iranian officials said these attacks triggered their missile response.
The conflict caused a mass exodus from Tehran, a city of nearly 10 million residents, according to local sources, though no official figures were released.
While Trump and senior officials described the campaign as a limited strike aimed at disrupting nuclear capabilities, critics warned of the potential for long-term regional fallout.
Vice President Vance said on Fox News that Iran’s capacity to build nuclear weapons had been “neutralized,” stating, “Now Iran is incapable of building a nuclear weapon with the equipment they have because we destroyed it.”
Trump, citing intelligence briefings, reiterated his belief that Iran was close to developing a nuclear weapon. However, U.S. intelligence agencies earlier in the year had reported no current nuclear weapons program in Iran. A source with direct access to classified assessments told Reuters last week that the intelligence stance remained unchanged.
In a post on Sunday, Trump again called for regime change in Tehran, targeting the country’s ruling clerical establishment. He referred to the group as Washington’s “principal foe in the Middle East” since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
Israel’s military confirmed that strikes were aimed at facilities tied to the Iranian state’s internal security and political infrastructure, including the Evin prison complex in Tehran. That facility is known for holding political prisoners and dissidents.
With the ceasefire now declared, all eyes remain on whether both governments will adhere to the terms. There has been no indication so far that further strikes are imminent, though the situation remains tense.
(With files from Reuters)
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