Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the ceasefire with Iran unveiled by U.S. President Donald Trump and said he had agreed to it, but warned his country would “respond forcefully to any violation”.
Trump urged Israel and Iran to uphold the ceasefire as it came into effect. Trump said there would be a 12-hour ceasefire followed by the complete end of what he called the “12 DAY WAR” another 12 hours after that. Iran signalled it would join the ceasefire.
“Israel has removed from itself an immediate existential double threat—both in the nuclear domain and in the field of ballistic missiles,” Netanyahu said in a statement on Tuesday morning, originally in Hebrew.
“Additionally, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) achieved full air superiority over Tehran’s skies, struck a heavy blow to the military leadership, and destroyed dozens of central government targets in Iran.
“Even in the past 24 hours, the IDF has severely struck government targets in the heart of Tehran, eliminated hundreds of Basij operatives—the regime’s repression mechanism—and neutralized another senior nuclear scientist.”
Netanyahu thanked Trump and the U.S. “for their support in defense and for participating in the removal of the Iranian nuclear threat.”
“This is a tremendous success for the people of Israel and its warriors, who removed the two existential threats to our state and ensured the eternity of Israel,” Netanyahu said.
The Israeli prime minister will make a full statement later on Tuesday.
“Israeli citizens must continue to strictly follow the instructions of the Home Front Command until full confirmation of the ceasefire’s implementation,” Netanyahu said
“Our hearts are with the families who lost their loved ones, and we send wishes for a full recovery to the wounded.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi had earlier posted to X that were was “NO ‘agreement’ on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations.”
“However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 am Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response afterwards,” Araghchi said.
“The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later.”
In a follow-up post, Araghchi said: “The military operations of our powerful Armed Forces to punish Israel for its aggression continued until the very last minute, at 4am.
“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 any attack by the enemy until the very last minute.”
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
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