In a significant development, after Israel largely damaged Tehran’s nuclear and military facilities, followed by the US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire with Iran, it has agreed to the same on Tuesday. In a statement issued by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Tuesday, Israel thanked President Trump and the United States “for their defensive support and for their participation in removing the Iranian nuclear threat.”

Meanwhile, the Israeli Government warned Tehran and vowed to respond forcefully if Iran violates the ceasefire. The statement read, “In light of having achieved the objectives of the operation, and in full coordination with President Trump, Israel agrees to the President’s proposal for a bilateral ceasefire. Israel will respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire. The citizens of Israel must continue to adhere to IDF Home Front Command directives until the full observance of the ceasefire has been verified…” The Prime Minister will issue a statement later in the day.

At 6.08 BST, President Trump officially announced that the ceasefire had come into effect. He took to his ‘Truth Social’ account, stating, “CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!), for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!”

However, shortly after, Israel launched multiple fresh strikes in different locations in Iran. In retaliation, Iran also hit back with missiles. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that sirens were sounded in the country. Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stressed that military operations to punish Israel for its aggression continued until the very last minute, at 4 am.