A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran appeared to hold on Tuesday, with Israel’s military lifting emergency measures and Iran’s president declaring “the end of a 12‑day war that was imposed on the Iranian people” in a televised address.
The truce followed a rebuke from President Trump, who sharply criticized both nations for firing missiles after he had declared the conflict over—later taking credit for brokering the halt in hostilities.
“Both Israel and Iran wanted to stop the War, equally!” Mr. Trump posted on social media as he flew to a NATO summit in the Netherlands. “It was my great honor to Destroy All Nuclear facilities & capability, and then, STOP THE WAR!”
Earlier, in blunt comments to reporters, Mr. Trump expressed frustration with both sides. He faulted Israel for retaliating “right after we made the deal” following an Iranian missile strike and insisted the two adversaries “didn’t know what they were doing.” He said on Air Force One that he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and had been “firm and direct” about preserving the ceasefire.
According to Mr. Netanyahu’s office, Iran launched missiles after the ceasefire took effect, prompting Israel to strike a radar installation near Tehran in limited retaliation. Iran denied violating the ceasefire. Both sides, while issuing conflicting accounts, indicated their desire for the truce to endure.
World leaders cautiously welcomed the ceasefire. Dmitri S. Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said: “If a ceasefire has indeed been achieved, then that can only be welcomed.” French President Emmanuel Macron praised the announcement but warned the situation remained “volatile and unstable.”
The conflict escalated overnight: at least four people were killed when a missile struck an apartment building in Beersheba, and Iranian residents reported their most intense airstrikes since June 13.
Over the past two weeks, Gulf countries, notably Qatar, engaged in discreet diplomacy with both Israel’s American allies and Iran—even before Iran’s Monday missile strike—in a bid to establish a ceasefire and avert wider escalation.
Oil prices declined for a second day on Tuesday, and U.S. equity markets surged. The S&P 500 rose more than 1 percent, closing within 1 percent of its February record, buoyed by relief over the apparent truce.
