Despite a rocky start just hours into fruition, the ceasefire agreement announced by President Donald Trump on Tuesday seems to be holding in the waging standoff between Israel and Iran.
Alleged violations from both Middle Eastern countries early Tuesday morning resulted in public, and reportedly private lashings from Trump, who helped broker the agreement that was set to begin at midnight ET.
“ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran,” the president wrote on Truth Social on June 24. “Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!
The temporary truce follows 12 days of the Israel-Iran conflict that was abetted by Trump ordering U.S. warplanes to bomb three Iranian nuclear facilities in an operation he deemed a “spectacular military success” during a speech at the White House Cross Hall on June 21.
Iran responded by launching a coordinated missile assault on U.S. forces stationed in Qatar and Iraq on Monday, marking a major escalation in the wake of U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The retaliation, dubbed “Operation Herald of Victory,” targeted the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar and the Ain al-Assad base in Iraq, both key U.S. military installations in the region.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council claimed the number of missiles launched matched the number of bombs dropped by U.S. forces during their attack on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites. State media described the strikes as a “proportionate response” to what Iran has called a breach of international law and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
In a statement posted to State Media, Iran emphasized that it had coordinated with Qatari officials in advance to minimize casualties.
Qatar confirmed the strike but reported no fatalities, condemning the attack and reserving the right to respond under international law. Explosions were heard across Doha, according to Reuters, while Axios reported Iran had launched six missiles in the operation.
Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem, speaking to Lebanese media, said, “Because Iran is rightful and is attacked, it will come out victorious.”
He praised Iran’s leadership and warned that targeting Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, would bring “grave consequences for the entire world.” Qassem asserted that Iran remains united and defiant in the face of foreign aggression.
Meanwhile, Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Reza Najafi, called an extraordinary meeting of the agency’s Board of Governors in response to what he described as “the aggressive move of the United States and the Israeli regime” against peaceful Iranian nuclear facilities.
Najafi said U.S. airstrikes violated the NPT and occurred while IAEA inspectors were present. He added, “Responsibility for the grave environmental consequences caused by the U.S. attack shall be borne by the United States, the Israeli regime, and the IAEA.”
According to Iranian State Media, Najafi further warned that the damage inflicted on Iran’s safeguarded nuclear sites represents an “irreparable strike” to the international nuclear regulatory framework. He said Iran would continue to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity under the UN Charter and the NPT.
Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, vowed that Iran would deliver a “regretful response” to the attacks, saying, “Iran’s punishment of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will continue with utmost might.”
Mousavi condemned what he called Trump’s support for a “fake regime” and expressed gratitude for the Iranian people’s support, promising a “crushing response” to future threats.
“Iran is committed to maintaining its warm ties with Qatar,” the Iranian Supreme National Security Council said, according to State Media, “and took steps to avoid endangering the brotherly and friendly country of Qatar and its people.”
