Ceasefire between Israel and Iran takes effect as Trump urges restraint

On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that a ceasefire between Israel and Iran had officially come into effect, appealing to both parties to maintain the truce. This development brought a glimmer of hope for the end of a 12-day-long conflict, despite ongoing violence reported in both nations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel had accepted the ceasefire proposal and declared that the country had accomplished its objective of neutralizing Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities. Nevertheless, Netanyahu cautioned that Israel would retaliate strongly against any violations.

Trump had earlier posted on his social media platform that the ceasefire was active, urging both nations not to breach it. His announcement followed new Iranian missile attacks that reportedly killed four people in Israel. At the same time, Iranian authorities reported nine fatalities in northern Iran resulting from a separate strike.

Trump’s declaration on Monday of a comprehensive ceasefire suggested that both sides would be allowed to finalize ongoing military operations before fully implementing the truce in stages. The announcement came after a weekend escalation in which the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear sites, prompting Iran to retaliate with missiles targeting a U.S. base in Qatar.

Reports from early Tuesday indicated explosions near Tel Aviv and Beersheba. Iran's state-affiliated media claimed that the final volley of missiles was launched just before the ceasefire deadline. The Israeli military confirmed multiple missile waves from Iran, while emergency services reported four deaths in Beersheba.

In Iran, the deputy governor of Gilan province reported that a "terrorist attack" destroyed four homes, killing nine and injuring 33. It remains unclear whether this was an Israeli airstrike. However, local media stated that nuclear scientist Mohammadreza Sediqi was among the casualties, allegedly killed before the ceasefire took effect.

A senior official from the U.S. administration stated that the ceasefire was brokered during a phone call between Trump and Netanyahu, with Israel agreeing to the terms provided Iran halted its attacks. Trump praised both countries for their resolve and labeled the conflict the “12-Day War.”

While an Iranian official confirmed Tehran's agreement to the ceasefire, the foreign minister insisted that Iran would only halt its response if Israeli attacks ceased entirely. Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s foreign minister, emphasized that the final decision on stopping military operations would be made later.

This fragile truce leaves open several unresolved questions, particularly whether it can hold between two nations with a history of deep-seated hostility. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons, though its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has stated that if the country chose to pursue them, it would be unstoppable. Israel, which is widely believed to possess nuclear arms, is not a signatory of the international Non-Proliferation Treaty and maintains ambiguity over its capabilities.

Qatar played a key role in facilitating the agreement, with its Prime Minister reportedly helping to secure Iran’s acceptance. Senior U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and special envoy Steve Witkoff, also participated in discussions with Iran.

Neither the Iranian delegation at the United Nations nor the Israeli embassy in Washington issued comments. However, Israeli officials had indicated earlier that they were preparing to conclude operations in Iran, a message they communicated to Washington.

Markets responded positively to the ceasefire news. U.S. stock futures rose, signaling investor optimism. Meanwhile, crude oil prices fell as concerns about regional supply disruptions eased.

Earlier, Trump had indicated his intention to push Israel toward a broader peace initiative, expressing appreciation for Iran’s prior warning about its missile strike on a U.S. base, which caused no casualties.