Iran Reopens Airspace To Commercial Flights
The ceasefire seems to finally be holding as of early evening local time, despite the ongoing accusations of earlier violations when it was to take effect.
'Both Israel and Iran wanted to stop the War, equally! It was my great honor to Destroy All Nuclear facilities & capability, and then, STOP THE WAR!' President Trump said on Truth Social. Were they all destroyed?
And China has belatedly weighed in, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi saying China supports Iran in achieving a 'genuine ceasefire' – but following Beijing's condemnation of the US for striking the country's nuclear sites.
'China supports Iran in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security, and, on that basis, achieving a genuine ceasefire so that people can return to normal life,' Wang expressed to his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in a phone call.
But here is the clearest indicator yet that skies have cleared of Israeli warplanes and return fire over Tehran:
Iranian airspace partially reopened today, following the country's ceasefire with Israel after 12 days of hostilities, according to aviation monitoring company FlightRadar24.
'Iranian airspace is now open to international arrivals and departures to/from Tehran with prior permission,' FlightRadar24 said on X. Iraqi airspace has also reopened, it added.
Also, Iranian media is currently airing footage of a large crowd assembled in central Tehran, in an act expressing solidarity with the country's armed forces. IRNA, Fars, and Mehr are covering the gathering in Revolution Square. Now each side is declaring 'victory' to some extent, but whether the ceasefire will actually stick is anyone's guess.
Click here to read more
Also read: Iran Strikes US Base in Qatar: What We Know About Al Udeid Attack — And What's Next
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
3 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
US Intel Casts Doubt on Impact of Iran Strikes as Region Sees Fragile Ceasefire
As a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel enters its second day after a fierce 12-day conflict, new revelations from U.S. intelligence cast doubt on the long-term effectiveness of American airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. Despite U.S. President Donald Trump's declaration that Iran's nuclear capabilities had been 'completely destroyed,' classified U.S. intelligence reports suggest the damage may have only set back the program by a few months. Conflicting Claims on Nuclear Impact In a press conference, Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said Israel had delivered a 'significant hit' to Iran's nuclear program, claiming it could delay Iran's efforts 'by several years.' However, he cautioned that it was 'still early to assess the full impact.' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the 12-day war a 'historic victory' and pledged to prevent Iran from rebuilding its nuclear capabilities. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian maintained that Iran will continue to assert its right to peaceful nuclear energy, defending the country's position under international law. What US Intelligence Reports Say According to unnamed U.S. officials cited by media outlets, preliminary intelligence assessments found that many of Iran's critical centrifuges and enriched uranium stockpiles were not destroyed. Instead, the U.S. strikes mostly blocked access to facilities without demolishing the fortified underground structures. These findings appeared to frustrate President Trump, who posted on Truth Social that 'THE NUCLEAR SITES IN IRAN ARE COMPLETELY DESTROYED!' Iran Responds Politically and Publicly In a strong response to the strikes and what Iran perceives as international inaction, Iranian lawmakers voted to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf criticized the IAEA for failing to condemn the attacks, saying it had compromised its global credibility. The bill must still be approved by the Guardian Council. Lives Lost and Mourning Ahead Iran announced it will hold state funerals on Saturday for top commanders and scientists who died in the conflict. Among them is Hossein Salami, chief of the Revolutionary Guards, who was killed on the first day of fighting. He will be buried Thursday in central Iran. Iran's health ministry reported that 610 civilians were killed by Israeli strikes, while official Israeli figures say 28 people were killed in Iranian attacks. Executions Spark New Tensions Adding to the tense atmosphere, Iran's judiciary confirmed the execution of three men—Idris Ali, Azad Shojai, and Rasoul Ahmad Rasoul—accused of spying for Israel and attempting to smuggle assassination tools into the country. As both nations bury their dead and re-assess their strategies, the world watches closely—wondering if the current ceasefire will hold, and what comes next for the region's already volatile nuclear future.
Daily Tribune
3 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
NATO Eyes 5% Defense Spending Goal Amid Divided Support
At a high-stakes NATO summit in the Netherlands on Tuesday, NATO's new Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised former U.S. President Donald Trump for pressuring European nations to boost their defense spending—crediting him with pushing the alliance to a historic turning point. As world leaders gathered for the meeting, Trump shared a private message from Rutte on social media, which read: 'Donald, you have driven us to a really, really important moment for America and Europe and the world. You will achieve something NO American president in decades could get done.' Rutte added in the message: 'Europe is going to pay in a BIG way, as they should, and it will be your win.' NATO later confirmed the message was genuine. Rutte, who recently stepped into his NATO role, told reporters he had no issue with Trump sharing the note publicly. 'There's nothing in it that needed to be kept secret,' he said, brushing off concerns. Trump arrived in the Netherlands late Tuesday, after raising doubts about whether the U.S. remains fully committed to NATO's mutual defense clause—Article 5—which states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. When asked if the U.S. still stands by it, Trump replied vaguely, 'Depends on your definition.' Rutte, however, reaffirmed his full confidence in the alliance's unity and commitments. One of the summit's most pressing issues is a proposed new target: NATO members committing 5% of their GDP to defense spending by 2035. While the U.S. has long pushed for increased European contributions, not all allies are on board. Spain has called the target 'unreasonable,' and Slovakia wants flexibility in how it meets the goal. 'There's a problem with Spain. Spain is not agreeing, which is very unfair to the rest of them, frankly,' Trump told reporters. The atmosphere echoed tensions from 2018, when a previous NATO summit under Trump's first term nearly collapsed due to similar disputes over military budgets. Now, as the alliance faces new global threats and internal differences, leaders must navigate the fine balance between unity and national interests. The summit continues on Wednesday, with leaders expected to formally decide on the 5% pledge. Whether it will be a breakthrough or another moment of division remains to be seen.
Daily Tribune
4 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
Oil slides, stocks rise as Trump says ceasefire holds
Oil prices sank and stock markets rose yesterday as US President Donald Trump said a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was taking hold after he berated both countries for violating the truce. In volatile trading, crude futures slumped more than five percent after Trump announced a ceasefire. 'This morning's ceasefire further reduced the perceived threat to Middle Eastern oil supply routes,' said David Morrison, analyst at Trade Nation. The main international and US contracts reduced their losses later as Israel and Iran accused each other of breaking the ceasefire. But prices fell again around five percent after Trump declared the ceasefire was in effect after berating the two countries in an expletive-laced outburst. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said later his country will respect a ceasefire if Israel also upholds its terms, while Israel said it refrained from further strikes after a phone call between Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Relief for Tehran Prices were also brought down by Trump saying that China could continue to buy oil from Iran, in what appeared to be relief for Tehran from sanctions Washington has previously imposed. Prices had already fallen by more than seven percent on Monday after Iran's response to US strikes on its nuclear facilities was limited to missile launches on a US military base in Qatar. There was also relief that Iran has refrained from closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for about one-fifth of the world's oil supply. Wall Street extended gains at the open on Tuesday. Paris and Frankfurt were sharply higher in afternoon deals but London's gains were limited as shares in oil majors Shell and BP fell on the lower crude prices. Asian markets closed higher. Dollar retreats The dollar retreated against other major currencies. Escalating tensions in the Middle East has removed some focus from Trump's tariffs war, which threatens to dampen global economic growth. 'With the immediate geopolitical tensions dialled down, investors are free to focus on President Trump's trade war and the first tariff deadline coming up in a couple of weeks,' Morrison said. 'As far as investors are concerned, they've just stared down the prospect of World War Three, so they're not going to be fussed by a few percentage points on US imports,' he added. Several countries face steep tariffs if they fail to reach deals with the United States by July 9, with duties of 50% looming large over the European Union. Fawad Razaqzada, analyst at City Index and said investors were 'now shifting their attention' to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's testimony in Congress later Tuesday. Powell was due to tell Congress that the central bank can afford to wait for the impact of Trump's global tariffs before deciding on further interest rate cuts, according to his prepared remarks. 'For the time being, we are well positioned to wait to learn more about the likely course of the economy before considering any adjustments to our policy stance,' he said.
