A US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Iran, announced after nearly two weeks of conflict, quickly unraveled. Israel accused Iran of violating the truce almost immediately after its confirmation, prompting threats of forceful retaliation from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.
Israel claimed to have achieved its military objectives before agreeing to the ceasefire, stating that the decision to halt strikes was made in full coordination with President Trump. The Israeli Prime Minister's office declared that all objectives of the military offensive had been met.
Prior to the ceasefire announcement, Iran launched a missile strike on the Al Udeid air base in Doha, Qatar, claiming it was a response to a US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran maintains its nuclear program is peaceful.
President Trump announced the ceasefire agreement on Truth Social, warning both sides against violating the truce. The US played a key mediating role in the short-lived agreement.
Oil prices initially dropped but rose again following Israel's warning of further strikes, reflecting the uncertainty and heightened tensions in the region.
Israel warned of new missile fire from Iran and vowed to retaliate, just minutes after it announced it had agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire with Tehran.
The two countries had on Tuesday agreed to halt hostilities, heralding a possible end to almost two weeks of conflict between the regional rivals.
But minutes after Israel confirmed it had agreed to the truce, it said Iran had broken the agreement.
“I have instructed the IDF to respond forcefully to Iran’s violation of the ceasefire with powerful strikes against regime targets in the heart of Tehran,” said Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz.
The initial confirmation of the agreement by both sides came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it had achieved “all of the objectives” of its military offensive.
Earlier on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire to end what he called the “12 day war”.
“It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE,” Trump posted on Truth Social. He later warned both sides against violating the truce.
The ceasefire announcements followed Tehran’s missile strike late on Monday against the Al Udeid air base near Doha, the biggest US air base in the Middle East.
Iran said the attack, which caused no casualties, was a response to the US strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities at the weekend.
Oil prices rose after Israel’s warning of new strikes from Iran, trading down about 3 per cent on the day at just under $70 dollars a barrel, having earlier been down nearly 6 per cent.
Crude had fallen sharply following Iran’s attack on the base in Doha, which traders interpreted as a largely symbolic retaliation, designed to avoid a response from the US.
Israel said that the decision to halt its strikes on Iran was agreed “in full co-ordination with President Trump”.
Netanyahu launched the military campaign against Iran nearly two weeks ago, vowing to eliminate what he said was a threat from Tehran’s missile and nuclear programmes. Iran has maintained its nuclear programme is peaceful.
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