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The fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel appeared to be on the brink of collapse Tuesday, just hours after it was brokered by the United States and Qatar and publicly announced by President Donald Trump. Tensions erupted anew when both countries accused each other of violating the truce, with Trump issuing a blunt warning to Israel: “Do not drop those bombs.”
The ceasefire officially took effect shortly after 05:00 GMT, following a late-night post from Trump on his Truth Social platform declaring that both sides had agreed to halt hostilities. “Please do not violate it!” he urged, calling for restraint after what he labeled “the 12 day war.” By 06:00 GMT, the Israeli government confirmed it had agreed to the US-brokered proposal after Iran signaled it would also stop attacks if Israel complied. However, the truce quickly unraveled.
Shortly after the ceasefire was said to be in effect, Israel accused Iran of launching new missile attacks on its territory. In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz labeled the action a “complete violation” of the deal, adding that the military had been instructed to escalate operations targeting Tehran’s regime infrastructure. Iran, however, strongly denied launching missiles after the agreed ceasefire time, instead stating that any strikes occurred in the final moments before the truce took hold.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) insisted its actions targeted military and logistical centers in Israel before the clock ran out. Iran’s state-linked Tasnim news agency claimed that Israel launched a “three-phase” military strike inside Iranian territory even after the ceasefire began. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council warned that any further aggression from Israel would be met with a “decisive, firm, and timely” response.
President Trump, visibly frustrated, criticized both Iran and Israel during an impromptu address to reporters outside the White House. “There was one rocket that I guess was fired overboard after the time limit, and now Israel is going out,” he said. “These guys [have] got to calm down.” In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump repeated that the ceasefire remained in effect, though his tone suggested deepening skepticism about its durability.
Prior to the truce, both nations had engaged in heavy fire. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported overnight strikes in response to Iranian missile launches, with the city of Beersheba suffering casualties. Four people were reportedly killed, and 22 injured. Tehran, meanwhile, endured its most intense air defense operations since the war erupted on 13 June, with residents describing the sound of explosions shaking the capital. The IDF later claimed it destroyed missile launchers in western Iran that were poised to target Israeli territory.
In the backdrop of these escalating hostilities lies the reason the conflict ignited: nuclear tensions. On 13 June, Israel struck Iranian nuclear and military sites, citing fears that Tehran was nearing the production of a nuclear weapon. Following stalled diplomatic efforts, Israeli officials stated that military action was the only option left. The strikes, joined by US forces days later, included a significant attack on the Fordo nuclear enrichment site using so-called “bunker buster” bombs.
Iran’s health ministry announced that 610 people have been killed and 4,746 injured since Israeli strikes began. Israel reported a death toll of 28, including four fatalities on Tuesday. Tehran also confirmed that another nuclear scientist was killed just hours before the ceasefire took hold, further complicating hopes for long-term peace.
Though Iran continues to claim its nuclear program is purely for civilian use, the UN nuclear watchdog recently reported that the country has enriched over 400kg of uranium to 60% purity — dangerously close to weapons-grade levels. US officials say that the joint strikes with Israel have severely set back Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Yet Iranian state media downplayed the damage, claiming key materials were moved long before the sites were targeted.
Despite attempts at de-escalation, the situation remains fluid and volatile. With both nations accusing each other of bad faith, and Trump’s patience visibly wearing thin, the success of this ceasefire — and any long-term peace — hangs by a thread.