US President Donald Trump announced on Monday, June 23, 2025, that Israel and Iran have agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire” following a period of heightened conflict in the Middle East. The declaration was made via his social media network, Truth Social.
This announcement comes after a dramatic escalation in hostilities between the two nations and involving US forces in the region over the preceding days.
Recent Escalation of Conflict
The period of intense exchange began on Sunday, June 22, 2025, when the United States conducted airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. The US described the ordnance used in these strikes as “bunker buster” bombs.
Iran responded on Monday evening, June 23, 2025, by launching missile attacks. These strikes targeted the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which is the largest American base in the Middle East, as well as a military base located in Iraq. Iran stated explicitly that these attacks were carried out in response to the earlier US strikes.
In addition to targeting US interests, Iran also launched missile attacks directly against Israel. Reports indicated casualties in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba.
Detailed accounts from Al Jazeera reported that Israeli emergency services confirmed four people were killed in Beersheba as a result of a missile strike on a building. The same report noted that two individuals sustained moderate injuries and 20 others suffered light injuries in the attack.
Conflicting Accounts on Ceasefire Status
Despite President Trump’s assertion that a ceasefire was in effect and his urging for both sides not to violate the agreement, immediate confirmation from either Iran or Israel remained elusive, according to some reports.
Adding to the uncertainty, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was reported to have contradicted the notion of a formal ceasefire agreement with Israel. However, Araghchi reportedly stated that Tehran would cease its attacks if Israel halted its “illegal aggression” by a specific deadline: 4 am local time, corresponding to 00:30 GMT.
Casualty Claims from Both Sides
The recent surge in violence has led to significant casualty claims from both sides, though verifying these figures independently remains challenging.
Iran has claimed that over 400 people, including 13 children, have been killed as a result of Israeli actions since June 13. Separately, Iran has claimed that at least 24 people have been killed within Israel by Iranian strikes.
Continued Military Action
Even as discussions of a potential ceasefire emerged, military actions continued.
Israel’s military claimed on June 24, 2025, to have conducted a strike that destroyed Iranian missile launchers located in western Iran. According to the Israeli military, these launchers were prepared to fire at Israel, necessitating the preemptive action.
The situation remains fluid, with President Trump’s ceasefire announcement standing alongside conflicting reports from the involved parties and continued military operations.
