Israel-Iran conflict live updates: Israel's campaign against Iran ‘is not over' as conflict enters ‘new phase', IDF says

News.com.au

8 hours ago

Welcome to our live coverage of the escalating situation in the Middle East.
Iran said on Tuesday that it was ready to return to negotiations with the US, as a fragile ceasefire in its war with Israel took hold after 12 days of strikes that pummelled the Islamic republic's nuclear facilities.
But even as he appeared to express willingness to revisit nuclear talks derailed by Israel's surprise attack, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country would continue to 'assert its legitimate rights' to the peaceful use of atomic power.
The head of Israel's military said Tuesday that its strikes had set back Iran's nuclear program 'by years' and the campaign against the country was now 'entering a new phase'.
'We have concluded a significant phase, but the campaign against Iran is not over. We are entering a new phase based on the achievements of the current one,' Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said in a statement.
'We've set Iran's nuclear project back by years, and the same applies to its missile program.' Israel said earlier Tuesday that it had removed the 'dual existential threat' of Iran's nuclear program and missiles.
Israel has said its war, which began on June 13, was aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, an ambition Tehran has long denied holding.
After Mr Trump angrily berated both sides for early violations of the truce on Tuesday, Tehran announced it would respect the terms of the deal if Israel did the same, while Israel said it had refrained from further strikes.
Both Israel and Iran appeared to claim victory following the announcement of the truce.
The Israeli government said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had convened his cabinet 'to announce that Israel had achieved all the objectives of Operation Rising Lion and much more'.
It added that it had removed the 'dual existential threat' of Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, while vowing to respond forcefully to any violations of the ceasefire.
Iran's top security body, meanwhile, said the Islamic republic's forces had 'compelled' Israel to 'unilaterally' stand down.
Its Revolutionary Guards also hailed a last-minute missile salvo fired at Israel as 'a historic and unforgettable lesson to the Zionist enemy'.
Following US air strikes on Sunday, President Donald Trump said his forces had 'totally obliterated' Iran's main nuclear sites.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that there was now an 'increased' risk that Iran would attempt to enrich uranium secretly.