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Good morning. Following the United States’ attack on Iranian nuclear sites early on Sunday, the question was how Tehran would respond. Last night, we saw the beginnings of the answer – and, at least according to Donald Trump, the end of it.
The retaliation came in the form of ballistic missile attacks on a US base in Qatar. While the Iranian authorities called the operation a “mighty and successful response”, no Americans were harmed – apparently by design. Trump described it as a “very weak response”, suggested that the Iranians had “gotten it all out of their ‘system'”, and added: “CONGRATULATIONS WORLD, IT’S TIME FOR PEACE!”
Two hours later, Trump elaborated on that grandiloquent social media post with another one, claiming that Israel and Iran had “fully agreed” a “Complete and Total CEASEFIRE” that would immediately be followed by a permanent peace. Amid reported surprise among his own officials and considerable broader confusion, Iran made its own announcement of a ceasefire – but Israel is yet to do the same, and Iranian missiles struck southern Israel around the time that the arrangement was supposed to kick in.
So was this a final flurry, or a sign of trouble? A few minutes ago, the Israeli government said it has agreed to the ceasefire proposal – and you can follow the live blog for the latest. Today’s newsletter explains a chaotic night that appears to herald the end of the war – and what the long-term consequences of US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities could be. Here are the headlines.
Five big stories
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Protest | UK home secretary Yvette Cooper has vowed to ban Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws, after activists from the group broke into RAF Brize Norton and spray-painted two military planes. PA’s lawyers said that Cooper’s proposal was an attack on freedom of expression and assembly.
Politics | Labour MPs have launched a significant rebellion against the government’s benefit cuts with an amendment that could kill its welfare bill, spearheaded by senior select committee chairs and which sources say could be signed by up to 100 MPs.
NHS | UK health secretary Wes Streeting has launched a national investigation into “systemic” failures in NHS maternity services in England, saying “maternity units are failing, hospitals are failing, trusts are failing, regulators are failing” and there is “too much passing the buck”.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/24/tuesday-briefing-first-edition-israel-iran-us-war
