June 23, 2025 | 5:20 PM GMT
JERUSALEM / TEHRAN—Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a brokered ceasefire between Israel and Iran after nearly two weeks of escalating warfare that brought the region to the brink of all-out war. However, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) report ongoing missile launches from Iranian territory, raising questions about the truce’s stability.
Key Developments:
- Ceasefire Announcement: Speaking from a press conference in Istanbul, Trump declared a "mutual cessation of hostilities" effective immediately. He claimed the agreement was reached after intensive back-channel negotiations involving Turkey, Qatar, and Switzerland.
- Missile Launches: Despite the ceasefire, the IDF confirmed a fresh wave of Iranian ballistic missiles targeted military infrastructure in northern Israel just hours after the announcement. No casualties reported so far.
- Iran’s Response: Iranian state media denied violating the ceasefire, accusing Israel of staging provocations in Syrian and Iraqi airspace minutes before the missile launch.
Regional and Global Reactions:
- United States: President Biden’s administration issued a cautious welcome to the ceasefire but warned Iran that “continued aggression will not go unanswered.”
- United Nations: The UN Security Council called an emergency session for tomorrow to assess ceasefire compliance.
- Russia & China: Both powers praised Trump’s diplomacy and urged the West to pressure Israel into full military withdrawal from border zones.
Background:
The 12-day war erupted following the assassination of an Iranian Quds Force commander near the Golan Heights, triggering retaliatory strikes across multiple fronts—from Lebanon to the Red Sea. Over 300 people have been reported dead, with thousands displaced across Israel, Syria, and western Iran.
Live Updates:
- 17:00 GMT: Air raid sirens in Haifa as two projectiles intercepted by Iron Dome.
- 16:45 GMT: Trump urges NATO allies to enforce the ceasefire via maritime patrols in the Gulf.
- 16:20 GMT: IDF confirms six Iranian missile launch points were “active post-ceasefire.”
What’s Next?
Analysts say both sides may use the ceasefire to reposition forces, and fear remains high of a sudden collapse into renewed conflict. International monitors are expected to deploy within 48 hours to oversee de-escalation zones in Syria and Iraq.