Opening summary
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:
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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”.
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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Israel is yet to officially confirm the ceasefire.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Key events
Israel’s military says it has identified another wave of missiles launched from Iran towards Israel, according to Reuters news.
Meanwhile, president Trump has posted this message on Truth Social:
Israel & Iran came to me, almost simultaneously, and said, “PEACE!” I knew the time was NOW. The World, and the Middle East, are the real WINNERS! Both Nations will see tremendous LOVE, PEACE, AND PROSPERITY in their futures. They have so much to gain, and yet, so much to lose if they stray from the road of RIGHTEOUSNESS & TRUTH. The future for Israel & Iran is UNLIMITED, & filled with great PROMISE. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH!”
Amid confusion over whether a ceasefire is in place, and if so when it officially begins, Israel’s Defence Forces have confirmed that missiles have been launched from Iran toward Israel.
In a post on X, the IDR said:
The IDF has identified that missiles were launched from Iran toward Israeli territory a short time ago. Defense systems are operating to intercept the threat. You must enter protected spaces upon receiving the alert and remain there until further notice. Leaving the protected space will be permitted only upon receiving explicit instructions; continue to follow the Home Front Command’s guidelines.”
Why is Iran’s nuclear programme so essential to its identity?
Why does a country with large oil reserves feel such a need to have home-grown civil nuclear energy?
Have a read of this interesting feature from the Guardian’s diplomatic editor, Patrick Wintour.
An unidentified drone targeted an army radar at Iraq’s Taji military base north of Baghdad, the Iraqi state news agency reported early on Tuesday, citing a military official, as picked up by Reuters.
There were no casualties, the commander of Baghdad’s operations said.
In 2020, the US-led international coalition troops withdrew from the base and handed it over to Iraqi security forces. The base had historically held up to 2,000 coalition members.
The base, 20 km (12 miles) north of Baghdad, had been the site of frequent rocket attacks by Iran-backed militias targeting US-led troops months before the withdrawal.
Opening summary
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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