Trump Declares ‘Complete, Total’ Cease-Fire In Israel-Iran Conflict
- By RFE/RL
US President Donald Trump, in a stunning Truth Social post, announced that a “complete and total” cease-fire had been agreed to in the conflict between Israel and Iran, due to take effect in phased steps, bringing an end to what he called the “12-day war.”
Trump on June 23 said the cease-fire will begin in "approximately six hours" and will be phased in over 24 hours, “at which point the War will be considered, ENDED.”
Some details remained unclear following Trump’s detailed social media posting timed at 6:02 p.m. Eastern time.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi appeared to acknowledge that a pause in attacks had begun in the conflict, but his comments early on June 24 have caused some confusion following Trump's cease-fire announcement.
“At the moment, there is no agreement on the issue of a cease-fire or a cessation of operations,” he wrote on Telegram.
“However, on the condition that the Israeli regime ceases its illegal aggression against the Iranian people by 4 a.m. today, we have no intention of continuing to respond,” he added.
The cease-fire was scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. Israel time, although Israel reported incoming missiles fired from Iran at 5:40 a.m.
Israel did not immediately comment on the cease-fire deal. It was not stated if Iran had agreed to terms set down by the United States demanding the end to uranium enrichment.
“CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE!” Trump wrote in his post.
“It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!), for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!”
“Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World.”
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Sirens Blare Over Israel After Iran Seems To Acknowledge Pause In Attacks
- By RFE/RL
Sirens blared over the Haifa region at 5:15 a.m. in Israel after the military warned citizens of an incoming missile launch from Iran, hours after US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a “complete and total” phased-in cease-fire.
The Israeli military reported that Iranian missiles had been fired at Israel a "short while ago."
Live webcams appeared to show incoming flares and interceptors over the city, although no there was no immediate confirmation of what the projectiles were in the early morning of June 24.
Minutes later, Israel authorities said the event had ended and that people could leave shelters, but shortly thereafter said another wave of missiles had been launched toward the Tel Aviv area.
Trump earlier announced that a “complete and total” cease-fire had been agreed to in the conflict between Israel and Iran and that it was due to take effect in phased steps, bringing an end to what he called the “12-day war.”
The official time of the beginning of the cease-fire was 7 a.m. Israel time, although Iran gave off contradictory signals.
Iran's Araqchi Says No 'Agreement' Yet But Willing To Stop Attacks If Israel Does
- By RFE/RL
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi appeared to acknowledge that a pause in attacks had begun in the conflict with Israel, but his comments early on June 24 have caused some confusion following a cease-fire announcement by US President Donald Trump.
“At the moment, there is no agreement on the issue of a cease-fire or a cessation of operations,” he wrote on Telegram on June 24.
However, he added his country would stop responding with retaliatory strikes if Israel ceased attacking by 4 a.m.
“On the condition that the Israeli regime ceases its illegal aggression against the Iranian people by 4 a.m. today, we have no intention of continuing to respond.”
“The final decision on the cessation of military operations will be made by us at a later date,” he added.
Minutes later, he wrote: “The military operations of our powerful Armed Forces to punish Israel for its aggression continued until the very last minute, at 4 a.m.”
The posts threw a bit of confusion into the matter following comments by Trump that both sides had agreed to a phased cease-fire to begin early in the morning of June 24.
Trump said the cease-fire would start after both sides finished their “in-progress final missions” and attacks were reported in both countries after midnight.
Russia’s Medvedev Backs Off Iran Nuclear Comments After Trump Rebuke
- By RFE/RL
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on June 23 appeared to back off remarks suggesting Russia could supply Iran with nuclear warheads after his earlier comments were assailed by US President Donald Trump.
Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, criticized the June 21 US bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities, writing that a number of unnamed countries were prepared to supply Tehran with nuclear warheads.
In a social media post, Trump directly called out Medvedev, who has become a leading Russian hard-liner.
"Did I hear Former President Medvedev, from Russia, casually throwing around the 'N word' (Nuclear!), and saying that he and other Countries would supply Nuclear Warheads to Iran? Did he really say that or, is it just a figment of my imagination?"
Medvedev responded in a post on X: "Regarding President Trump's concerns: I condemn the US strike on Iran – it failed to achieve its objectives."
"However, Russia has no intention of supplying nuclear weapons to Iran because, unlike Israel, we are parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty."
"But other countries might—and that's what was said. And we definitely shouldn't be arguing over who has more nukes. All the more so because the New START treaty, which I once signed with a US president, is still in force—for now," he said.
Trump Predicts Cease-Fire To Last 'Forever,' Calls It 'Wonderful Day For World'
- By RFE/RL
US President Donald Trump said the cease-fire he announced on June 23 between Israel and Iran represented “a wonderful day for the world” and that he believed the truce would last “forever,” according to remarks published by US network NBC.
"I think the cease-fire is unlimited. It's going to go forever," Trump told NBC.
The White House said Trump secured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s agreement for the cease-fire in a phone call on June 23.
The White House official said Israel agreed to the cease-fire on the condition that Iran not launch any further attacks against Israel.
Meanwhile, Israel said it was not planning any fresh attacks, although both sides were continuing to launch strikes in the countdown to the start of the cease-fire, expected to begin early on June 24.
Trump said earlier on social media that Iran and Israel had agreed to a “complete and total cease-fire” to be phased in over 24 hours.
The White House official said Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US special envoy Steve Witkoff had also been involved in negotiations.
Israel and Iran have not officially commented.
Israel, Iran Issue Evacuations In Countdown To Reported Cease-Fire
The Iranian and Israeli militaries separately issued evacuation orders early on June 24, even as the sides were reportedly on the way to a phased-in cease-fire announced by US President Donald Trump.
Israel an immediate evacuation warning for an area in Tehran's 6th and 7th districts and then to residents of the Mehran area, RFE/RL's Radio Farda reported.
Earlier, Iran issued an evacuation warning to residents of Ramat Gan, a city in Israel’s Tel Aviv district, according to Iranian state media.
The Mehr news agency, in a posting on Telegram, said only that Iran warns “Israeli settlers to urgently evacuate” the region.
Israel has often issued evacuation warnings to residents in Iranian areas linked to military or nuclear sites prior air strikes.
AFP reported that warplanes were seen over Tehran and that explosions rocked parts of the city around 3 a.m. local time.
Trump announced a "complete and total" phased cease-fire in the conflict between Israel and Iran, due to begin early on June 24 "when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their" final actions.
Iran Foreign Minister: Not Looking To 'Expand Tensions' But Ready To Respond To Further US Actions
Iran's foreign minister on June 23 said Tehran's attack on a US military base in Qatar was in response to what he called US "aggression against Iran's territorial integrity and sovereignty” and that the country stood ready to respond to any further actions.
Iran’s top diplomat, Abbas Araqchi, said, "In the event of any further action by the United States, the Islamic Republic of Iran will be ready to respond again,” according to a statement by Iran’s Foreign Ministry.
The ministry statement said that “Iran does not want to expand tensions in the region” but that it “considered our country's missile attack on the Al-Udeid military base as a response to the clear aggression of the United States against Iran's territorial integrity and national sovereignty.”
Abbas made the comments in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, following visits to Istanbul and Moscow as he looks to bolster support for Iran in the country's conflict with Israel.
US President Donald Trump said there were no injuries in what he called Iran's "very weak" attack on the base and that nearly all the missiles fired by Tehran were intercepted.
With Trump saying Iran had alerted the United States prior to the attack, many experts saw Iran’s limited strike as a sign that Tehran did not want to escalate the crisis.
US Military Says No Bases In Iraq Were Targeted By Iran Despite Early Reports
- By RFE/RL
A US military official told AP and Reuters that no US bases in Iraq were targeted by Iran but said a malfunctioning Iranian missile aimed at Israel triggered an alert in Iraq earlier in the day.
Initial reports on June 23 had erroneously indicated that along with the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the Iranian military had fired missiles toward a US facility in Iraq.
In a Truth Social post, US President Donald Trump President said no Americans or Qataris were harmed and “hardly any damage was done” in the attack on the sprawling Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, apparent retaliation for the US strikes on June 21 on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Many experts see Iran’s limited strike as a sign that Tehran was looking to deescalate the crisis, with Trump saying that Iran had alerted the United States prior to the attack on the base in Qatar.
US Official Confirms Iran Attack On US Base In Qatar
- By RFE/RL
A spokesperson from the US Department of Defense confirmed to RFE/RL that Iran attacked the Al Udeid Air Base on June 23, adding there were no reports of casualties.
“I can confirm that Al Udeid Air Base was attacked by short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles originating from Iran today," the official said.
"At this time, there are no reports of US casualties. We are monitoring this situation closely and will provide more information as it becomes available.”
A Symbolic Strike Meant As A Climbdown. Will It Work?
- By Kian Sharifi
The Iranian missile strike on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar was a highly symbolic act, carefully calibrated to send a message of resolve while avoiding a broader and more destructive conflict.
Iran explicitly stated that the number of missiles launched late on June 23 matched the number of bombs dropped by the United States on Iranian nuclear sites, signaling its intent to deliver a proportional response rather than escalate the situation uncontrollably.
This symmetry in action highlights Iran's desire to demonstrate it will not leave attacks on its territory unanswered but also that it does not seek a full-scale war.
To read the full analysis, click here.