Israel-Iran war live: Trump declares ceasefire in ‘12-day war' hours after Tehran attacks US base in Qatar
Update:
Date: 2025-06-24T01:35:33.000Z
Title: Opening summary
Content: It has been a dramatic few hours in the Israel-Iran war, with retaliatory attacks from Iran on the largest US military facility in the Middle East, and claims from US president Donald Trump that a ceasefire has been agreed.
Here is the latest:
US president Donald Trump has announced in a social media post that Iran and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire. 'On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, 'THE 12 DAY WAR,' Trump wrote on his platform, Truth Social. 'This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn't, and never will!' Trump later told NBC the ceasefire was 'unlimited' and would last 'forever'.
Trump brokered the ceasefire through talks with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday while his team, including vice-president JD Vance, held talks with Tehran, a senior White House official told Reuters. The official, providing details of the ceasefire on condition of anonymity, said Israel agreed to it so long as Iran does not launch fresh attacks. Iran signalled that no further attacks would take place, the official said.
After the ceasefire was announcement by Trump, Israel's Defence Forces issued an evacuation warning for several parts of the Iranian capital, ahead of a planned Israeli strike. On social media, some users reported massive explosions in Tehran, which they said was the most intense since Israel first started bombing Iran 12 days ago.
Iran's foreign minister seemed to suggest that a cessation of hostilities had begun in a post on social media, saying Iran's military attacked Israel 'until the very last minute, at 4am.' Earlier he said that if Israeli strikes ceased at 12.30GMT Iran had 'no intention to continue our response afterwards.'
Israel is yet to officially confirm the ceasefire.
According to a report from Reuters news agency, Qatar played a role in helping to broker the deal behind the scenes. Qatar's prime minister reportedly secured Iran's agreement in a call with Tehran, an official briefed on the matter told Reuters.
Trump's proclaimed ceasefire comes after Iran announced it had launched a missile attack on a US base in the Gulf state of Qatar, at the Al Udeid Air Base, in what it said was retaliation for US participation in Israel's bombing campaign against Iran the day before.
Qatar's foreign ministry said that 'Qatar's air defences successfully thwarted the attack and intercepted the Iranian missiles' and there had been no casualties. Iran reportedly provided advance warning of the attack.
Trump at the weekend launched an unprecedented attack on three nuclear sites in Iran, including Isfahan, Natanz and Fordow. Codenamed 'Midnight Hammer,' the attack deployed American B-2 bombers, and so-called bunker buster bombs.
Trump was quick to claim that US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities had 'completely and totally obliterated' them. Still, it remains unclear how much physical damage has been done or what the longer-term impact might be on Iran's nuclear programme.
US bombing probably caused 'very significant' damage to the underground areas of Iran's Fordow uranium enrichment plant dug into a mountain, though no one can yet tell the extent, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said on Monday. 'Given the explosive payload utilised and the extreme(ly) vibration-sensitive nature of centrifuges, very significant damage is expected to have occurred,' Grossi said in a statement.
The comments follow a meeting by the national security committee of Iran's parliament, which approved the general outline of a bill meant to fully suspend Tehran's cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog. According to the bill, installing surveillance cameras, allowing inspections, and submitting reports to the IAEA would be suspended as long as the security of nuclear facilities is not guaranteed.
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The Independent
17 minutes ago
- The Independent
Status of ceasefire unclear after Iranian missile barrage strikes Israel after a first deadline
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a 'complete and total ceasefire' soon after Iran launched a retaliatory limited missile attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar. But the status of a possible ceasefire remained tentative on Tuesday as an Iranian missile barrage struck Israel after a first deadline for the proposal. The Iranian barrages sent Israelis hurrying into bomb shelters as the sun rose, killing at least four people and injuring eight others, Israel's Magen David Adom rescue services said. Israel has yet to acknowledge Trump's proposal, which gives Israel more time to potentially strike back though Iran on its state television announced an overall ceasefire had begun at 7:30 a.m. local time. The barrage damaged at least three densely packed residential buildings in the city of Beersheba, police said. First responders said they retrieved four bodies from one building and were searching for more. Outside, the shells of burned out cars littered the streets. Broken glass and rubble covered the area. Hundreds of emergency workers gathered to search for anyone else trapped in the buildings. Police said some people were injured even while inside their apartments' reinforced safe rooms, which are meant to withstand rockets and shrapnel but not direct hits from ballistic missiles. The direct hit in the largest city in southern Israel came just days after the city's hospital sustained significant damage in a missile strike. The Israeli military said people could leave bomb shelters but cautioned the public to stay close to shelter for the coming hours. Trump says ceasefire is in effect Trump's announcement that Israel and Iran had agreed to a 'complete and total ceasefire' came soon after Iran launched a limited missile attack Monday on a U.S. military base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites. The U.S. was warned by Iran in advance, and there were no casualties. Trump's announcement on Truth Social said the ceasefire beginning about midnight Washington time would bring an 'Official END' to the war. Israel doesn't confirm ceasefire but appears to pause strikes Israel did not immediately acknowledge any ceasefire, but there were no reports of Israeli strikes in Iran after 4 a.m. in Tehran. Heavy Israeli strikes continued in Iranian cities until shortly before that time. Under the Trump plan, Israel was to halt its attacks on Iran by 1:30 p.m. Tehran time. There's been no report of Israel launching attacks against Iran since early Tuesday morning. Israel did not immediately acknowledge any ceasefire, but there were no reports of Israeli strikes in Iran after 4 a.m. in Tehran. Heavy Israeli strikes continued in Iranian cities until shortly before that time. The Israeli military declined to comment on Trump's ceasefire statement and the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. 'As of now, there is NO 'agreement' on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations,' Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in a post on X. 'However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 am Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response afterwards.' His message was posted at 4:16 a.m. Tehran time. Araghchi added: 'The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later.' Writing over an hour after the first phase of the tentative ceasefire, which called for Iran to halt its attacks, Trump added: 'THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!' Trump describes conflict as '12 Day War' Trump gave the conflict between Israel and Iran a name: the '12 Day War.' That recalls the 1967 Mideast war, known by some as the 'Six Day War,' in which Israel fought a group of Arab countries including Egypt, Jordan and Syria. Trump's reference carries emotional weight for the Arab world, particularly Palestinians. In the 1967 war, Israel captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem from Jordan, the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, and the Golan Heights from Syria. Though Israel later gave the Sinai back to Egypt, it still holds the other territories. Trump communicated directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure the ceasefire, according to a senior White House official who insisted on anonymity to discuss the Monday talks. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff communicated with the Iranians through direct and indirect channels. The White House has maintained that the Saturday bombing helped get the Israelis to agree to the ceasefire and that the Qatari government helped to broker the deal. It's unclear what role Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's leader, played in the talks. He said earlier on social media that he would not surrender. Attacks from Iran forces temporary closure of Israel's skies Israel's Airports Authority said Iran's barrage forced them to close the country's airspace to emergency flights for several hours. Some flights were forced to circle over the Mediterranean Sea, according to Israeli media. Israel's airports have been closed since the war with Iran began, but a handful of emergency flights started arriving and departing over the past few days. By early Tuesday, Qatar Airways resumed its flights after Qatar shut down its airspace over the Iranian attack on Al Udeid Air Base. Flight-tracking data showed commercial aircraft again flying in Qatari airspace, signaling Doha believed the threat on the energy-rich nation had passed. Conflict has killed hundreds In Israel, at least 24 people have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded in the war. Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 974 people and wounded 3,458 others, according to the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists. The group, which has provided detailed casualty figures from Iranian unrest such as the protests surrounding the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, said of those killed, it identified 387 civilians and 268 security force personnel. The U.S. has evacuated some 250 American citizens and their immediate family members from Israel by government, military and charter flights that began over the weekend, a State Department official said. There are roughly 700,000 American citizens, most of them dual U.S.-Israeli citizens, believed to be in Israel. ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writers Josef Federman in Jerusalem, Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad, Abby Sewell in Beirut, Elise Morton in London, Geir Moulson in Berlin, Ella Joyner in Brussels, Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and Stephanie Liechtenstein in Vienna contributed to this report.
Reuters
21 minutes ago
- Reuters
Trump says US interest rates should be at least two to three points lower
June 24 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said interest rates should be at least two to three points lower and the U.S. Federal Reserve could increase them later if things turned negative. "We should be at least two to three points lower. If things later change to the negative, increase the Rate," he said in a post on Truth Social.
Sky News
22 minutes ago
- Sky News
Iranian state media says ceasefire with Israel has begun, after night of deadly strikes
Iranian state television says a ceasefire in its war with Israel has now begun, following a night of missile strikes. Israel's ambulance service says at least four people were killed, with footage from southern Israel showing extensive damage to what appeared to be a residential building. Sirens sounded in several areas - and members of the public who received an alert were ordered to take shelter - with explosions heard over Tel Aviv. Early on Tuesday morning, US President Donald Trump declared: "The ceasefire is now in effect. Please do not violate it!" The message on Truth Social followed a series of posts on Monday, in which the US President declared that a "complete and total ceasefire" had been agreed upon between the two countries and would begin at approximately 5 am UK time. In a post on X, Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, confirmed that Tehran "has no intention" to continue its response - provided the Israeli regime "stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people". Israeli media reports suggested Benjamin Netanyahu was also on board - provided Iran stops firing missiles towards the country - but there has been no official confirmation. Mr Trump had written: "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. "On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both countries, Israel and Iran, on having the stamina, courage, and intelligence to end, what should be called, 'THE 12 DAY WAR.' "This is a war that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn't, and never will!" 2:58 In an interview with Sky News' partner network NBC, the president said it was a "great day" for the US and the Middle East - and a "wonderful day" for the world. "I'm very happy to have been able to get the job done. A lot of people were dying, and it was only going to get worse. It would have brought the whole Middle East down," he said. Mr Trump said he thinks the ceasefire is "unlimited" and is "going to go forever" - adding: "I don't believe they will ever be shooting at each other again." Analysis: Seasoned diplomats startled at developments I've spoken to a diplomat involved in the fast-moving developments of the past 12 hours. The diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not permitted to speak publicly, told me that Donald Trump called the Emir of Qatar yesterday evening. Trump told the emir that he had a commitment from Israel that it would cease its attacks on Iran. Trump asked the emir to try to secure the same commitment from the Iranians. The Qatari PM and vice president JD Vance engaged on the details of what they hoped could be achieved. The Qatari PM then spoke to Iranians (it's not clear who within the Iranian power structure the Qataris spoke to, and my source wouldn't say). The Iranians agreed to stop their attacks. Shortly after, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi posted the confirmation, saying: "The military operations of our powerful armed forces to punish Israel for its aggression continued until the very last minute, at 4am. "Together with all Iranians, I thank our brave armed forces who remain ready to defend our dear country until their last drop of blood, and who responded to any attack by the enemy until the very last minute." My source could not comment on the complex timeline (six hours, 12 hours, 24 hours) laid out in Donald Trump's Truth Social post, but it's thought that this might have been overtaken now by agreements made by Trump, the Israelis, the Iranians, and Qatar. Time will tell. It's clear from the tone of the messages I have had from various sources that the pace and style of the developments of the past 12 to 24 hours have left even these seasoned diplomats startled. Messages from several Middle Eastern diplomats have included emojis reflecting exasperation, surprise and bewilderment. Just hours earlier, people in the Qatari capital Doha had stopped and gazed up at the sky as Iranian missiles flew to the American al Udeid base and interceptors fired. Officials said there were no casualties, and the US later confirmed it had been warned about the attack by Iran. Mr Trump was in the Situation Room in the White House as the strikes took place. He later claimed on his social network that the missiles were a "very weak response", which the US "expected" and "very effectively countered". The Iranian attack came after the US dropped "bunker buster bombs" on three key nuclear sites in Iran over the weekend. In a new interview on Fox News, US Vice President JD Vance claimed Iran is no longer able to build nuclear weapons after the American attacks.
