US President Donald Trump announced that the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran has come into effect. He wrote on his Truth Social platform, “The ceasefire is now in effect. Please do not violate it!”
Earlier in the day, Trump said that the agreement called for the parties to enter the ceasefire in stages, with Iran being the first to cease fire and Israel joining in 12 hours later.
The situation unfolded against the backdrop of an escalation of the conflict that began on June 13, when Israel launched massive strikes on Iranian facilities, including those related to the nuclear programme. In response, Iran attacked targets inside Israel and later retaliated with a strike on a U.S. military base in Qatar following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on 22 June.
According to Israeli government officials, the peace treaty will only be valid if all the parties involved in the conflict honor it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured the public that his country was becoming a part of the agreement. His office statement emphasized the gratitude of the US and Donald Trump in person. Israel also warned it would use force in case of a breach of the truce.
Iranian television confirmed the truce’s start meanwhile, although Tehran officials have not yet made a public statement at the highest level.
