A tense calm has settled over the Middle East after a "complete and total" cease‑fire between Israel and Iran took effect late Monday, brokered by President Trump. The deal, announced just hours ago, seemed fragile at first—but has held for now amid rare public criticism from the U.S. president.
Mr. Trump, speaking before leaving for a NATO summit, said both Israel and Iran violated the truce early on, with Israel launching strikes immediately after the agreement—and Iran retaliating soon after with missiles, according to Reuters He made clear he was “not happy with Israel,” using sharp words to warn against further aggression.
Israel’s military said the violation was real—the air force struck a radar installation near Tehran but then stood down on Trump’s orders, aiming to preserve the fragile truce . On the other side, Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed his country would respect the cease‑fire "as long as the other side does".
Despite the early flare‑ups, pockets of calm are returning. Tehran’s skies are peaceful, and Israeli cities are lifting emergency measures. Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv is back open. Iranian officials confirmed Iran held fire after Israel ceased attacks by the agreed deadline .
Why it matters: This truce marks a dramatic, if fragile, reversal after 12 days of intense military exchanges—including U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. The pause offers a brief window to de-escalate and potentially explore diplomatic paths forward.
Still, both capitals appear cautious. Leaders in Israel and Tehran publicly reserved the right to resume strikes if provoked—making the truce conditional at best. With high tensions and fragile compliance, uncertainty remains, leaving the global community watching closely.
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