Tehran: In a major development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday that Israel has accepted a ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump to halt hostilities with Iran. The declaration came just hours after Trump confirmed the agreement and shortly after Iran launched a fresh barrage of missiles targeting the Israeli city of Be’er Sheva.
According to an official statement from Netanyahu’s office shared on social media platform X, Israel has achieved its key military objectives. “Israel expresses gratitude to President Trump and the United States for their military assistance and leadership in removing the Iranian nuclear threat. Given the mission’s success, Israel agreed to the President’s proposal for a mutual ceasefire,” the statement read.
The recent escalation was sparked by Israeli claims that Iran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon—a claim Tehran has repeatedly denied. Following joint Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, Trump’s diplomatic team, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, initiated talks with Iranian officials in a bid to end the conflict.
President Trump reportedly had a direct conversation with Netanyahu before making his announcement. “We’re going to make peace,” Trump told aides, according to White House sources cited by Reuters.
While Israel has formally accepted the ceasefire, Iran’s position remains ambiguous. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on X that “no ceasefire or cessation of military operations is agreed upon.” However, he hinted that Iran would pause retaliation if Israel ceased its aggression by 4 a.m. Tehran time.
Despite the foreign minister’s initial remarks, Iranian state media later reported that a ceasefire had taken effect at 7:30 a.m. IST. Araghchi also publicly thanked Iran’s armed forces for “punishing Israel for its aggression until the very last minute.”
Netanyahu warned that any violation of the truce would result in swift and severe retaliation. The fragile ceasefire now hinges on restraint from both sides as the region watches cautiously.
