Iranian state television reported early Tuesday that a ceasefire had begun in its conflict with Israel, displaying a bold on-screen graphic.
However, the announcement came simultaneously with Israeli warnings of a fresh missile barrage from Iran, casting doubt on whether the truce was truly taking hold on the 12th day of the conflict.
President Trump had earlier declared that Iran and Israel had agreed to a phased ceasefire—coordination he claimed was facilitated by the U.S. and allies, including Qatar. According to his timeline, Iran would halt operations first, followed by Israel 12 hours later, before both sides formally ended hostilities another 12 hours after that.
But as sirens wailed across Israel early Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported detecting missiles launched from Iranian territory. In the city of Beersheba, at least two civilians were killed when a residential building was struck, according to Israeli Fire and Rescue Services.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi appeared to confirm Iran’s adherence to the timeline in a post on X, writing that its military operation had continued until 4 a.m. local time. He emphasized that Iran would target only if Israel did not stop, and that a final decision on terminating military operations would follow later.
Responding to the missile barrage, Trump described Iran’s earlier strike on the U.S. Central Command’s forward headquarters in Qatar as a “very weak response” and stated that the U.S. sustained no casualties among the approximately 10,000 service members based there.
Diplomacy behind the pause
Quoting a senior U.S. official with knowledge of the negotiations, the Washington Post reported that Iran conditioned its return to the negotiating table—including discussions on its nuclear program—on an Israeli cessation of airstrikes. The United States, the official said, secured Israeli acquiescence by assuring Tehran that broader hostilities would not resume.
Trump stated that the deal was brokered at the highest levels, involving himself, Vice President J.D. Vance, and leaders from Qatar—Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Efforts to confirm the ceasefire from the Iranian U.N. mission or the Israeli Embassy in Washington were unsuccessful.
Looking forward
As of Tuesday morning, the fledgling ceasefire lacked formal confirmations from both governments. With rockets still reportedly falling, each passing hour could decide whether the truce holds or collapses into renewed hostilities.
Regional and global leaders are watching closely, urging diplomatic efforts to solidify the ceasefire and prevent further civilian casualties—a test that may determine whether the “12‑day war” truly ends now, or escalates once again.
