Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that Tehran had no intention of continuing its military strikes — but only if Israel halted its attacks — following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of a phased ceasefire aimed at formally ending the 12-day conflict.
Araghchi noted that Iran had already ceased operations at 4:00 a.m. local time (00:30 GMT) and expected Israel to do the same. “Our Armed Forces continued their operations to punish Israel’s aggression until the very last minute at 4 a.m.,” he wrote on social media. “As of now, there is no formal ceasefire agreement, but if Israel ceases its aggression by this time, Iran will not pursue further military action.”
President Trump earlier announced a 24-hour phased ceasefire, starting with Iran halting its operations at 04:00 GMT Tuesday. Israel would follow 12 hours later, according to Trump’s post on Truth Social. “It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a complete and total CEASEFIRE,” he wrote. “Upon the 24th hour, an official end to the 12-day war will be saluted by the world.”
Trump said both sides agreed to maintain peace and mutual respect during each stage of the ceasefire, which, if successful, could ease fears of a broader regional war that has alarmed global powers.
Despite the ceasefire announcement, there was no official confirmation from Israel, and explosions continued overnight in Tehran. Journalists reported powerful blasts in the north and central parts of the Iranian capital — among the most intense since hostilities began.
The conflict erupted after Israel launched preemptive strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites on June 13, prompting a series of retaliatory missile exchanges and raising the specter of a wider regional escalation.
