Trump Declares Israel-Iran Ceasefire ‘In Effect’ Amid Confusion and Continued Strikes
U.S. President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire “now in effect” between Israel and Iran early Tuesday morning, capping nearly two weeks of intense and deadly conflict in the region. The announcement, made on Trump’s Truth Social platform, was met with confusion and skepticism as missile strikes reportedly continued hours after the truce was said to have begun.
“After 12 days of intense fighting between Israel and Iran, a complete and total ceasefire, which I was able to negotiate, is now in effect,” Trump wrote. He credited his leadership and pressure from U.S. military operations in the region for brokering the truce, which he described as “historic.”
Trump did not provide details about the terms of the ceasefire or confirm whether both sides had formally agreed. The announcement comes as casualties have mounted on both sides following a series of unprecedented air and missile strikes, including Israeli strikes near Tehran and retaliatory attacks on Israeli cities such as Haifa and Be’er Sheva.
Despite Trump’s statement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would only halt missile launches if Israeli attacks ceased by 4:00 a.m. Tehran time. “There is no formal ceasefire agreement, but if Israel stops, we will stop,” Araghchi said in a televised statement.
Israeli officials have so far remained silent on the ceasefire claim. In the early hours following Trump’s declaration, explosions were reported near Tel Aviv and Be’er Sheva, raising doubts about whether the ceasefire had truly taken hold.
Footage aired by regional broadcasters showed Israeli Iron Dome interceptors launching into the night sky, suggesting incoming missile fire — possibly from Iranian-backed groups in Syria or Lebanon.
Trump praised the role of U.S. B-2 bombers, which he said “delivered a perfect strike” on a Revolutionary Guard weapons complex in western Iran on Monday, implying the operation was key to pushing Tehran to the negotiating table.
The United Nations called for restraint and urged both sides to clarify their positions. “The priority must be the immediate cessation of hostilities and the protection of civilians,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres in a statement.
In Tel Aviv and Tehran, citizens spent the night in bomb shelters, uncertain if the war that had claimed hundreds of lives was truly over. Markets across the Middle East reacted cautiously, with oil prices dipping slightly on hopes of de-escalation but remaining volatile.
Without formal confirmation from Israel or Iran, analysts warn that Trump’s ceasefire declaration though potentially influential may not signal the end of the conflict.
“The messaging is murky,” said Dr. Leila Shams, a Middle East analyst at the Carnegie Endowment. “Trump’s announcement may have political significance, but we’re still seeing kinetic activity on the ground. This ceasefire exists more on social media than in reality at least for now.”
Situation on the ground still very fragile despite declared truce.
