A landmark ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, announced with fanfare by U.S. President Donald Trump, has collapsed into chaos and recrimination within hours of its supposed implementation. Both nations are now accusing each other of violating the truce, with Iran’s military claiming Israel continued its attacks after the deadline, while Israel reports new missile strikes from Iran that have caused casualties.
The rapid unraveling of the deal has extinguished the brief flicker of hope for de-escalation and has plunged the Middle East back into a state of high alert. The mutual accusations have shattered the fragile peace, raising fears that the 12-day conflict is far from over and could instead be entering an even more dangerous phase.
A Peace Deal Announced, and Immediately Questioned
The turmoil began just hours after President Trump took to his Truth Social platform late Monday night to declare a major diplomatic victory. He announced a “Complete and Total CEASEFIRE” between the two arch-rivals, congratulating both on their “Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence” for agreeing to end what he dubbed “THE 12 DAY WAR.” The deal was set to be implemented in stages, with Iran halting hostilities first, followed by Israel 12 hours later.
Both nations eventually, and separately, confirmed their acceptance. Iran’s state media declared a ceasefire had been “imposed on the enemy,” while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated it had agreed to the proposal after achieving its military objectives and in “full coordination with President Trump.”
However, even as these confirmations were being made, the situation on the ground told a different story. Both sides appeared to launch final salvos of attacks right up to the moment the ceasefire was meant to take effect, creating a confusing and volatile environment ripe for misunderstanding and accusation.
Iran’s Accusation: “The Zionist Regime Continued Its Attacks”
On Tuesday morning, as a fragile quiet was expected to settle over the region, Tehran was the first to cry foul. Iran’s armed forces issued a statement accusing Israel of continuing its military aggression well past the ceasefire deadline.
“The Zionist regime launched three waves of attacks on sites in Iranian territory until 9:00 am (0530 GMT) today,” a spokesman for the armed forces command was quoted as saying on state television.
This accusation painted Israel as the aggressor, suggesting that even after agreeing to the truce, it had continued its bombardment of Iranian sites. The statement, however, did not provide specific details on the locations or the extent of the damage from these alleged post-ceasefire strikes, leaving the international community to parse conflicting reports. Iran’s denial that it had fired any missiles in violation of the agreement was swift, framing itself as the victim of a broken promise.
Israel’s Counter-Claim: A “Severe Violation” by Iran
Israel presented a starkly different and more violent narrative. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and emergency services, Iran launched a fresh barrage of missiles towards northern Israel hours after the ceasefire was supposed to have started. Air raid sirens blared across the country, sending citizens scrambling back into bomb shelters.
The IDF said it had identified and intercepted several missiles, but not all. Israeli officials reported that at least two missiles had struck populated areas, including one in the southern city of Beersheba, resulting in at least four deaths and multiple injuries.
The Israeli response was immediate and furious. Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that Iran had “completely violated” the ceasefire and that he had ordered the military to “respond forcefully to Iran’s violation… with intense strikes against regime targets in the heart of Tehran.”
The IDF’s Chief of the General Staff, Eyal Zamir, echoed this sentiment, stating, “In light of the severe violation of the ceasefire carried out by the Iranian regime, we will respond with force.” Hardline Israeli politicians appeared to welcome the resumption of hostilities, with one cabinet minister posting “Tehran trembles” on social media.
Conclusion: A War of Words and Weapons
The collapse of the ceasefire highlights the profound and seemingly insurmountable mistrust between Israel and Iran. What was celebrated by the White House as a monumental step toward peace has, in a matter of hours, devolved into a dangerous “he said, she said” conflict, with both sides using the alleged violations as justification for renewed military action. While the diplomatic efforts led by the U.S. and mediated by Qatar were able to bring the two nations to the table, the agreement itself appears to have been built on a foundation of sand. The ambiguity of the timeline and the final salvos fired by both sides created the perfect conditions for the truce to fail.
Now, instead of a “complete and total” peace, the Middle East is facing the grim reality of a conflict that has been re-ignited by mutual suspicion and a quick trigger finger. The world watches on, hoping that diplomacy can once again pull the region back from the brink, but fearing that the “12 Day War” was only the opening act.
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