Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed deep appreciation for the country’s armed forces on Tuesday, praising their continued retaliation against Israel “until the very last minute” in response to what Tehran calls unprovoked aggression.
“The military operations of our powerful Armed Forces to punish Israel for its aggression continued until the very last minute, at 4 a.m.,” Araghchi posted on X (formerly Twitter). “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 every attack by the enemy.”
Araghchi reiterated that Iran is prepared to halt its military operations—provided Israel also ceases its aggression. His comments followed an earlier statement reacting to U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of a ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel.
On Monday, Trump announced that both nations had agreed to a full ceasefire, potentially bringing an end to the 12-day war that displaced millions in Tehran and sparked fears of a wider regional conflict. Trump said the phased ceasefire would begin with Iran stopping attacks, followed by Israel 12 hours later.
However, there was no official confirmation from Israel, and tensions remained high. Early Tuesday, the Israeli military reported incoming missile volleys from Iran. Explosions were heard near Tel Aviv and Beersheba, with Israeli media confirming that a building was struck in Beersheba, killing three people.
The recent flare-up escalated after joint Israeli-U.S. strikes targeted Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend. Israel has accused Iran of accelerating efforts to acquire a nuclear weapon—an allegation Tehran denies.
The fragile ceasefire, if upheld, could mark a turning point in the conflict, though continued strikes have cast doubt over its immediate implementation.
