According to state media in Iran, a halt to the country’s conflict with Israel has started following a night of missile assaults.
The emergency services of Israel say that at least four people have been killed during the strikes overnight, with video from southern Israel revealing significant damage to what appears to be a residential building.
Sirens were sounded in multiple areas – and members of the public who got an alert were directed to shelter – with explosions heard over Tel Aviv.
Israel-Iran latest: A ceasefire deal has been reached
Early on Tuesday morning, US President Donald Trump declared: “The ceasefire is now in effect. Please do not violate it!”
The message on Truth Social followed a series of posts on Monday, in which the president stated that a “complete and total ceasefire” had been agreed upon and would come into effect at roughly 5am UK time.
Significant damage seen in a residential building in southern Israel. Pic: AP
On the social media platform X, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Tehran has “no intention” to continue responding to Israel – on the condition that “it stops its aggressive actions against the Iranian people”.
Reports from Israeli media suggested that Benjamin Netanyahu also agreed, provided Iran stops firing missiles toward the country, but there’s been no official confirmation.
Donald Trump in the Situation Room at the White House this weekend. Pic: Reuters
Mr Trump had announced: “Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World.
“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.’
“This is a war that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will!”
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Iran’s nuclear capabilities
In a conversation with Sky News’ partner network NBC, the president declared it a “great day” for the US and the Middle East – and “a wonderful day” for the world.
“I’m very pleased to have been able to get the job done. A lot of people were dying, and it was only going to get worse. It would have brought down the entire Middle East,” he stated.
Mr Trump said he believes the ceasefire is “unlimited” and is “going to go forever” – adding: “I don’t believe they will ever be shooting at each other again.”
Just a few hours earlier, people in the Qatari capital Doha had stopped and looked up at the sky as Iranian missiles flew toward the American al Udeid base and interceptors were launched.
Officials reported there were no casualties, and the US later confirmed that they had been warned by Iran about the attack.
Mr Trump was in the White House Situation Room during the strikes.
He later stated on his social network that the missiles were a “very weak response”, which the US “expected” and “effectively countered”.
After the US dropped “bunker buster bombs” on three key nuclear sites in Iran over the weekend.
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In a recent interview on Fox News, US Vice President JD Vance stated that Iran can no longer develop nuclear weapons after the American attacks.
“Iran was very close to having a nuclear weapon,” he remarked. “Now Iran can’t build a nuclear weapon with the equipment they have because we have destroyed it.”
