Latest news with #IranianForeignMinister
Japan Times
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Trump says ceasefire has begun, after deadly Iran strikes on Israel
U.S. President Donald Trump said a ceasefire is now in place between Iran and Israel, moments after Israeli emergency services said at least four people were killed by Iranian strikes. Iran fired several waves of missiles on Israel on Tuesday morning, even after Trump said the two countries had agreed to a truce. Israel also further attacked Iran. "THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT,' Trump said on Truth Social. "PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!' Israel said Tuesday it had agreed to Trump's "bilateral ceasefire." "Last night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the cabinet ... to announce that Israel had achieved all the objectives of Operation 'Rising Lion' and much more," the government said in a statement, adding that it had removed "an immediate dual existential threat: nuclear and ballistic." "Israel thanks President Trump and the United States for their support in defense and for their participation in removing the Iranian nuclear threat," the statement said, adding that "Israel will respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire." Just hours before Trump's announcement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said that "as of now, there is NO 'agreement' on ceasefire or cessation of military operations." "However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 a.m. Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response afterwards," he said on social media. Tuesday's Iranian strikes and Trump's comments followed an extraordinary night in which Tehran retaliated against a U.S. attack over the weekend by launching missiles at an American air base in Qatar. The Islamic Republic's move was telegraphed — with Qatar and the U.S. being forewarned — and there were no casualties. U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to address troops at the Al Udeid Air Base southwest of Doha on May 15. | AFP-JIJI Trump said the strike at Qatar was "weak' and that Iran had "gotten it out of their system.' He even thanked Tehran for "giving us early notice.' "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,' Trump said in an earlier social media post. Israel was still striking targets in Iran early on Tuesday, but the explosions in Tehran seemed to stop at about 4 a.m. local time, the BBC reported, citing local residents. While Israeli officials remained silent overnight, a senior White House official said Trump brokered the ceasefire in a direct conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff held direct and indirect talks with the Iranians about the proposal, the official said. Israel agreed to the truce as long as Iran did not launch further attacks, and the Iranian government signaled it would abide by those terms, according to the official. "For now, I think this is going to hold, and I think you will have an end to the war,' said Dennis Ross, who was President Bill Clinton's envoy to the region and is now a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "Iran has no interest in resuming anything soon.' The developments came about two days after the U.S. suddenly entered the conflict directly by bombing key Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. Trump said the strikes "completely and totally obliterated' the sites, though battle damage assessments continue and the whereabouts of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile is unknown. Trump had warned Iran late Saturday that if a peace deal wasn't reached quickly following the strikes that the U.S. would go after other targets in Iran with "precision, speed and skill.' Tehran vowed to respond to the unprecedented U.S. attack. But opted for a mostly symbolic response: firing missiles at the Al Udeid base in Qatar, which hosts the Middle East headquarters for the U.S. Central Command, the organization that oversees the American military in the region. The U.S. has around 9,000 service members in Qatar and 50,000 in the Middle East. Qatar said the Iranian missile barrage was intercepted and the base had been evacuated in advance. Iran's move on Monday appeared to be "a largely symbolic retaliation,' said Ziad Daoud, Bloomberg Economics' chief emerging-market economist. "Plenty of warning was given — Qatar shut its airspace and the U.S. issued warnings to citizens' in the gas-rich country. The remnants of an intercepted Iranian missile lie on the pavement near the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base after a strike following American attacks on Iran nuclear sites. | AFP-JIJI While Iranian state TV said the missile barrage "forced a ceasefire on the enemy,' some Iranian officials also suggested the move had a performative element to it. The number of missiles fired matched the number of bombs deployed by the U.S. against the nuclear sites. Iran was quick to say that Qatar, which has strong relations with Tehran as well as Washington, was a "friendly and brotherly country.' A diplomat briefed on the talks said Trump had spoken with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad and informed him the U.S. got Israel to agree to a ceasefire. Trump asked the Qatari leader for help persuading Iran to do the same. Iran later agreed, according to the diplomat, who asked not to be identified discussing private conversations. Trump went as far as predicting that a peace agreement between Israel and Iran would be long-lasting, despite decades of enmity between them. "I think the ceasefire is unlimited — it's going to go forever,' Trump said, adding that he sees the war as being completely finished and does not believe Israel and Iran "will ever be shooting at each other again.' Many questions remain, including the state of Iran's uranium stockpile and whether any ceasefire will lead to discussions about Tehran's nuclear program. The Islamic Republic, which has denied it's seeking an atomic weapon, has refused to give up the right to enrich uranium, a condition the U.S. has insisted upon. Iran says it needs to process uranium at least to the low level needed for civilian purposes such as fueling nuclear power plants. Yet the West and Arab states are wary because it's enriched uranium almost to the levels needed to build a bomb, without explaining why. Israel said its war against Iran was to prevent the country from acquiring atomic weapons, a risk also cited by Trump to justify U.S. involvement. Netanyahu's government has also said it aimed to destroy Iran's stockpiles of ballistic missiles and its launch sites. While Israel has denied it is not seeking to topple the theocratic government of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, it's officials have said its attacks could bring about such a situation. For now, there's little that will happen. Speaking to Fox News after Trump announced the ceasefire, U.S. Vice President Vance said that the U.S. bombing over the weekend had met its objectives. "We know that they cannot build a nuclear weapon,' Vance said, adding that Iran's existing stock of highly enriched uranium was "buried' by the attack. International monitors have said they don't know where that material is after Iran said earlier this month it would move it. "If Iran is desperate to build a nuclear weapon in the future, then they're going to have to deal with a very, very powerful American military,' Vance said.
Washington Post
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Live updates: Israel says it has agreed to Trump's proposed ceasefire with Iran
President Donald Trump said early Tuesday that a ceasefire between Israel and Iran had begun, but details of the agreement remained unclear as the two adversaries exchanged hostilities overnight. Israel said in a statement Tuesday morning that it had agreed to the ceasefire proposed by Trump and that it had achieved its military objectives against Iran. And Iran's foreign minister had appeared open to a ceasefire hours after Trump initially declared Monday on social media that Tehran and Israel had agreed to end the conflict. Overnight in the early-morning hours, the Israeli military reported multiple missile strikes in the country that killed at least four people, while Iranian state media reported loud explosions in Tehran. ISTANBUL — President Donald Trump claimed in a social media post Monday that Iran and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire, hours after Iran fired missiles toward an American air base in Qatar retaliating for U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities with a serious attack that caused no casualties. Israel has agreed to the ceasefire proposed by President Donald Trump, it said Tuesday morning. In a statement, the government said it had achieved its military objectives against Iran. 'Israel thanks President Trump and the United States for their support in defense and for their participation in removing the Iranian nuclear threat,' the statement said, adding that any ceasefire violations will be met with force.
The Independent
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Prime Minister heads to Nato summit as Trump declares Israel-Iran ceasefire
The Prime Minister heads to a Nato summit on Tuesday amid uncertainty surrounding a ceasefire between Israel and Iran announced by US President Donald Trump. Mr Trump said on Monday night he had secured the 'complete and total ceasefire' following Iran's retaliation against a US strike on its nuclear facilities. Iran's foreign minister said it would stop attacks if Israel stopped its own strikes by 4am Tehran time (2am BST) on Tuesday while state television said a ceasefire had begun. Israel has declined to comment on Mr Trump's ceasefire post on social media, but said four people had been killed by Iranian missile strikes after the 4am deadline, with the Israel Airports Authority adding the country's skies were closed to planes until further notice. Ahead of the two-day summit in the Netherlands, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said Sir Keir would continue to press for a diplomatic solution to the Israel-Iran crisis. The UK lifted advice for its citizens to shelter in place in Qatar after Iran launched a retaliatory attack on the US Al Udeid military base. Qatar also reopened its airspace. Mr Trump called Iran's action 'a very weak response' and thanked Tehran 'for giving us early notice' to avoid any casualties. He later said in a Truth Social post that Israel and Iran had agreed a 'complete and total ceasefire' to be phased in over 24 hours, saying the two countries had approached him 'almost simultaneously'. He said the ceasefire would be phased-in over 24 hours, giving the two countries six hours to have 'wound down and completed their in progress, final missions'. 'The World, and the Middle East, are the real WINNERS!' he posted later. 'They have so much to gain, and yet, so much to lose if they stray from the road of RIGHTEOUSNESS & TRUTH.' A senior White House official said Mr Trump had been in contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the ceasefire plan, while vice president JD Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff had been in communication with Iran through direct and indirect channels. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X there was 'NO 'agreement' on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations'. But he said Iran had 'no intention' of continuing attacks if Israel stopped its 'illegal aggression against the Iranian people' by 4am Tehran time (2am BST), around a quarter of an hour before his post. He added a 'final decision' on ending military operations would be made later. Israeli airstrikes targeted Tehran before the 4am deadline, while Israel reported three waves of missiles from Iran overnight emergency services saying the barrage had killed four people in Beersheba in the south of the country. The Israeli UN mission said it had no comment on the president's post. Meanwhile, the UK started evacuating Britons from Israel, with the first group of 63 flown back via Cyprus. Downing Street said 'around 1,000' people had requested a seat on an evacuation flight – a quarter of the 4,000 who had registered their presence in Israel or Palestine with the Foreign Office. The Government has withdrawn staff from its embassy in Iran and it is operating 'remotely', Foreign Secretary David Lammy told MPs. Mr Lammy previously spoke of a two-week window for a diplomatic solution after Mr Trump's apparent decision last week to delay US military action, but on Monday said the window had 'narrowed' although the need for a diplomatic solution remained. Mr Lammy said: 'My message for Tehran was clear, take the off ramp, dial this thing down, and negotiate with the United States seriously and immediately. 'The alternative is an even more destructive and far-reaching conflict, which could have unpredictable consequences.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Deadline Trump Announced for Iran to Begin Ceasing Fire against Israel Passes
A deadline announced by US President Donald Trump for Iran to begin ceasing fire in its war with Israel was reached early Tuesday after Iran fired multiple missile barrages. At least three people were killed in the early morning barrages, but there was no immediate word of further attacks. Israel's Magen David Adom rescue services said at least eight more people were injured in the early morning barrage. At least one person is believed trapped in the rubble and a residential building in Israel's south sustained heavy damage, according to emergency services. Waves of missiles sent Israelis to bomb shelters for almost two hours in the morning. 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 US military base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites. Israel so far has not acknowledged the Trump ceasefire announcement. Iran's foreign minister said that as long as Israel stopped its attacks by 4 a.m. local Tehran time Tuesday, Iran would halt its own. But nearly an hour after that deadline, Israel's military warned its public that Iran had launched missiles towards it as sirens sounded. At least one missile interception could be seen over the skies of Jerusalem and warnings of three further attacks followed as day broke. It's unclear what the detected missile launches would do for the ceasefire's timeline. Trump's announcement on Truth Social said the ceasefire wouldn't begin until about midnight Tuesday Eastern time. He said it would bring an 'Official END' to the war.
ABC News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Confusion over Israel-Iran ceasefire
Claims by the US President Donald Trump of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran have been rejected by Iranian foreign minister says there will not be an agreement until Israel stops its attacks. It comes just hours after Iran launched a series of missile strikes at US bases in Qatar, causing flights to be turned back, diverted and delayed across the Middle East and around the world.
