A "complete and total ceasefire" brokered by US President Donald Trump has formally taken effect between Israel and Iran after nearly two weeks of intense hostilities, airstrikes, and missile attacks. The ceasefire, termed by Trump as the end of the "12-Day War," comes after the US launched heavy bunker-busting bombings on Iran’s nuclear sites, and Iran responded with missile strikes on US and Israeli positions. But even after announcing the ceasefire, missile salvoes on both sides continued, prompting doubts over the sustainability of the fragile deal. Washington, Tehran, and Tel Aviv are projecting the truce as a strategic "victory" in their favour.

What Is a Ceasefire And Why Does It Matter

A ceasefire is a temporary or permanent suspension of active warfare between conflicting sides. A ceasefire is usually employed as a window for negotiations, humanitarian assistance, or diplomatic talks. In the present situation, the ceasefire was negotiated through multi-channel negotiations involving the US, Qatari, Israeli, and Iranian interlocutors.

Purpose of a Ceasefire
• De-escalation: Prevent further civilian or military casualties.
• Diplomacy: Create space for peace negotiations or conflict resolution.
• Humanitarian Relief: Enable aid delivery, medical evacuations, and rescue operations.
• Strategic Pause: Allow armed forces to regroup, rearm, or reposition.

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Ceasefire: A Pause in Fighting, Not the End of Conflict

No, a ceasefire does not necessarily mean the end of a conflict. It is an agreement to temporarily stop fighting, pausing attacks or military actions. While it can create space for peace talks or humanitarian efforts, the underlying issues of the conflict may still remain unresolved. A ceasefire can be temporary, lasting hours or days, or more long-term, but it is not the same as a permanent resolution or peace agreement that fully ends the conflict.

US Announces Victory: Ceasefire Reached After 'Neutralising' Iran's Nuke Facilities

US President Donald Trump, who has resurfaced on the global scene with this surprise diplomatic victory, announced the ceasefire through his social media platform Truth Social. “The ceasefire is now in effect. Please do not violate it!” Trump posted Tuesday morning, just hours after Iranian missiles struck Beersheba, killing four. Iran was warned by US officials that further aggression would lead to further military action, US officials said. White House sources stated that the bunker-busting raids had destroyed Iran's ability to enrich uranium to weapons-grade. “Iran is now incapable of building a nuclear weapon with the equipment they had because we destroyed it,” Vice President JD Vance stated.

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Israel Declares War Goals Achieved, Will Retaliate If Attacked

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that Israel "fully met its military goals," including damaging Iran's nuclear enrichment capability, disabling critical IRGC and intelligence infrastructure, and securing dominance of Tehran's skies via coordinated air superiority. “Israel thanks President Trump and the United States for their support in removing the Iranian nuclear threat,” read an official Israeli statement. Despite this, Israel warned that any future missile attack would be retaliated against with crushing force. Early Tuesday, waves of Iranian missiles attacked Israeli soil, killing four and wounding more than 20, putting Tel Aviv and Beersheba into lockdown. “Tehran will tremble,” Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich posted on X, after the latest missile strike during the ceasefire. The Trump administration is labeling the ceasefire as evidence of "peace through strength." By annihilating Iranian nuclear targets and negotiating an agreement soon after, Trump now stands as a military and diplomatic tactician in front of the 2026 elections. Netanyahu's administration asserts it disassembled Iran's war capacity or nuclear weapons development, a red-line goal for decades. The operation is presented to the Israeli public as a defensive and preemptive success.

Iran Declares Strategic Patience and National Defense Victory

Iran, having lost more than 900 lives in US and Israeli bombings, asserted that it would only comply with the ceasefire if Israel ceased "illegal aggression." Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, “Provided that Israel halts all attacks by 4 a.m. local time, we have no intention of continuing our response.” Even though Iran's state TV initially denied it, it eventually acknowledged that a ceasefire had started at 7:30 a.m. local time. Iran's supreme leader did not declare the truce a surrender, rather casting it as a temporary halt after having "taught a lesson" to both the US and Israel. In the face of severe civilian fatalities and damage to infrastructure, Tehran is presenting the war as evidence of the resilience of the nation. The Islamic Republic still portrays the conflict as resistance to Western "imperialism" and Zionist aggression.

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Despite these violations, both Iran and Israel claim the ceasefire is "technically" still holding. The so-called "12-Day War" is over with a ceasefire in place, but with missiles still on their trajectories, the world holds its breath. Whether it's the dawn of an enduring peace or just a temporary hiatus in an underlying war is too early to tell.