Fragile ceasefire holds as US and Iran eye long-term peace

A temporary truce between Iran and Israel remains intact following intense 12-day hostilities, with both sides pausing airstrikes after declaring victory. The conflict, which saw the United States enter the fray with air raids targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, has now shifted toward diplomatic negotiations.

Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoy to the Middle East, described discussions between Washington and Tehran as "promising," hinting at the possibility of a lasting peace deal. Speaking Tuesday night, he affirmed that both sides were already engaged in dialogue, directly and through intermediaries, expressing optimism that the process could lead to a comprehensive agreement benefiting Iran’s future.

President Donald Trump announced over the weekend that U.S. stealth bombers had severely damaged Iran’s nuclear weapons program. However, that claim was challenged by an early intelligence assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency, which suggested Iran’s underground nuclear infrastructure had not been destroyed but merely delayed by a few months. According to that report, two facility entrances were sealed but not fully collapsed, and some centrifuges remained operational.

The White House rejected the intelligence report, stating it was inaccurate. Nonetheless, when addressing the United Nations Security Council, U.S. officials acknowledged that the strikes had “degraded” Iran’s capabilities, falling short of Trump’s claim of total obliteration.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the campaign a success, saying it had neutralized the twin threats of a nuclear Iran and mass missile attacks. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian hailed the ceasefire as a strategic win, and expressed readiness to resolve disputes with the United States during talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The conflict began with a surprise Israeli air campaign on June 13, which targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and killed senior Iranian commanders marking one of the most significant assaults since the Iran-Iraq war. In retaliation, Iran launched missile attacks on Israeli cities and military targets.

According to Iranian media, authorities detained 700 individuals accused of links to Israel during the conflict. Iran also executed three men convicted of aiding Mossad and smuggling gear used in a covert killing.

Following the truce, Israel lifted its domestic security restrictions and reopened Ben Gurion Airport. Iran also announced it would reopen its airspace. Financial markets responded cautiously, with oil prices stabilizing after steep declines amid fears of a regional escalation and potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite the ceasefire, mutual distrust lingers. Both countries accused each other of initially breaching the agreement and delayed publicly acknowledging the truce. Trump rebuked both parties particularly Israel urging restraint and claiming he had instructed Israel to halt further military action.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he had pledged to U.S. officials that Israel would respect the ceasefire unless Iran broke it. Likewise, Pezeshkian confirmed Iran’s commitment to maintaining the truce if Israel complied.

Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir declared the operation a milestone but emphasized that tensions with Iran would persist, particularly in relation to Hamas in Gaza. Iranian reports indicated that 610 people died and 4,746 were wounded in Israeli airstrikes, while Iran’s counterattacks killed 28 in Israel the first time such a large-scale missile assault penetrated Israeli air defenses.