Trump says Israel-Iran ceasefire now in effect, please don’t violate it

*June 24, 2025 – WASHINGTON/DOHA/ISTANBUL*

A fragile ceasefire brokered by the United States took effect Tuesday between Israel and Iran, hours after a devastating missile barrage from Tehran killed four civilians in southern Israel—the first fatalities on Israeli soil since hostilities erupted 12 days ago. The truce, announced by former U.S. President Donald Trump via his Truth Social platform, followed intense backchannel negotiations involving Qatari mediators and U.S. officials.

Last-Minute Strikes Before the Truce

In the final hours before the ceasefire deadline, Iran launched six waves of missiles targeting Tel Aviv and Beersheba, where residential areas were struck. Israel’s national ambulance service confirmed four deaths in Beersheba, marking a grim escalation in a conflict that had previously been characterized by precision strikes on military and nuclear facilities. Iran’s semi-official SNN news agency framed the attack as a “final response” before complying with the ceasefire.

Trump, who had announced the agreement Monday, initially suggested both sides would complete ongoing operations before halting hostilities. His Tuesday morning post—”THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!”—reflected the precarious nature of the deal. A senior White House official revealed the terms hinged on Iran ceasing further attacks, a condition secured after Trump’s calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatari-mediated talks with Tehran.

Diplomatic Wrangling and Contradictions

While Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed the ceasefire early Tuesday, he conditioned its durability on Israel ending its “illegal aggression” by 4 a.m. Tehran time. Foreign Minister Javad Zarif struck a harder line, insisting Iran would only stand down if Israel halted all strikes—a demand Netanyahu’s government did not immediately acknowledge. The disconnect underscored the deal’s fragility, with neither side eager to appear capitulating.

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani played a pivotal role in securing Iran’s assent, according to a source briefed on negotiations. U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, engaged in direct and indirect talks with Iranian counterparts, though neither nation’s diplomatic missions responded to Reuters’ requests for comment.

Military and Humanitarian Toll

The conflict began June 12 after Israel—supported by U.S. airstrikes over the weekend—targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities with 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs, alleging Tehran was nearing weapons capability. Iran retaliated with missile strikes, including a symbolic attack on a U.S. air base that Trump dismissed as “very weak.” Meanwhile, Evin Prison and other sites in Tehran were hit, signaling Israel’s broader aim of destabilizing Iran’s leadership.

The humanitarian cost mounted as millions fled Tehran amid sustained bombing. Satellite imagery showed extensive damage to nuclear sites, though U.S. intelligence sources maintained Tehran had not actively pursued a weapon—a claim contradicted by Vance, who asserted the strikes had “incapacitated” Iran’s nuclear program.

Global Repercussions

Markets reacted swiftly to the ceasefire news: S&P 500 futures rose 0.4%, while oil prices dipped to a one-week low on eased supply fears. The lull follows a conflict that risked spiraling into regional war, with Israel’s undeclared nuclear arsenal and Iran’s ideological defiance of the West heightening stakes.

As both nations assess the damage, questions linger over the ceasefire’s longevity. Netanyahu reportedly ordered ministers to avoid public statements, suggesting internal tensions. For Trump, the deal marks a rare diplomatic win in a volatile region, though his celebratory post—hailing both nations’ “stamina, courage, and intelligence”—belies the unresolved grievances that could reignite hostilities.