Iran has rejected claims of a ceasefire with Israel, countering U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration of an “Official END” to the 12-day conflict. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that no agreement had been reached, though Iran would stop its attacks if Israel halted its own operations.
“The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later,” Araghchi said. His remarks were the first official response from Tehran following Trump’s late-night statement.
Trump had announced on his Truth Social platform that Israel and Iran had agreed to a phased ceasefire starting at midnight Tuesday, Eastern Time. He said the 24-hour arrangement would allow both sides to complete “final missions” before a complete halt to hostilities.
However, neither Iran nor Israel formally confirmed the ceasefire. The Israel Defense Forces declined to comment, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued no statement. Iran’s U.N. mission in New York also remained silent.
On Iranian state television, the ceasefire was described as a “Trump-claimed” truce. The anchor noted that as Trump made his announcement, Israeli forces were targeting multiple locations in Tehran, Urmia, and Rasht, including residential areas in the capital.
The two countries also issued new strike warnings. Israel warned that District 6 in Tehran could be a potential target. In response, Iran released a similar notice aimed at Ramat Gan in central Israel, threatening to strike “military infrastructure.”
Tensions escalated further on Monday when Iran launched a missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, saying it was a direct response to U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear sites over the weekend. Iran claimed the number of missiles it fired matched the number of U.S. bombs dropped. Tehran said it gave Washington advance notice, and Trump later confirmed there were no casualties, calling the strike a “very weak response.”
Qatar, however, strongly condemned the attack as a violation of its sovereignty and international law.
Meanwhile, both Iran and Israel have begun targeting sites with symbolic and political significance. Israel struck buildings in Tehran linked to the country’s internal security forces, including the headquarters responsible for protest suppression and the Evin prison, which is known for detaining political prisoners and dual nationals. Iranian state media aired footage of the damage. While no casualties were officially reported, human rights groups voiced concern for the safety of detainees.
The back-and-forth continues to fuel fears of a broader regional conflict, as calls for restraint remain unanswered.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
