After ceasefire, Iran says taking steps to continue nuclear programme
Trump says Iran-Israel ceasefire in force: Truce is a phased 24-hour process: Says Tehran gave advance notice of missile strike on its Qatar base
Iran's government said Tuesday it had "taken the necessary measures" to ensure the continuation of its nuclear programme after US and Israeli strikes targeted its facilities.
"We have taken the necessary measures and are taking stock of the damage" caused by the strikes, said the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Mohammad Eslami, in a statement aired on state television.
"Plans for restarting (the facilities) have been prepared in advance, and our strategy is to ensure that production and services are not disrupted," he added.
The United States struck the Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz uranium enrichment facilities on Sunday.
US President Donald Trump called the strikes a "spectacular military success". The extent of the damage is unknown.
An adviser to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said his country still had stocks of enriched uranium and that "the game is not over".
Israel announced on Monday that it had again bombed the Fordo site, buried under a mountain south of Tehran, to "obstruct access routes".
Iran-Israel ceasefire is in force, says Trump
US President Donald Trump said a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was in force on Tuesday, urging both sides to "not violate it" on the 12th day of the war between the two arch-foes.
"THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!" he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The US leader had earlier said the truce would be a phased 24-hour process beginning at around 0400 GMT Tuesday, with Iran unilaterally halting all operations first. He said Israel would follow suit 12 hours later.
Israeli rescuers said four people were killed in an Iranian strike, after state media in the Islamic republic reported waves of missiles were headed toward Israel.
Neither Iran nor Israel have confirmed the agreement touted by Trump on ending the conflict that has killed hundreds in Iran and two dozen in Israel.
Iran signals halt to missile strikes
Iran's foreign minister said Tuesday Tehran did not intend to continue its strikes if Israel stopped its attacks, hours after US President Donald Trump announced a staggered ceasefire to bring about an "official end" to their conflict.
Abbas Araghchi suggested that Iran had already halted its operation at 4am Tehran time (0030 GMT) -- and wanted a simultaneous end in attacks from Israel as well.
Trump had said the ceasefire would be a phased 24-hour process beginning at around 0400 GMT Tuesday, with Iran unilaterally halting all operations. Israel would follow suit 12 hours later.
"It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
"Upon the 24th hour, an official end to the 12-day war will be saluted by the world," he said, adding that both sides had agreed to remain "peaceful and respectful" during each phase of the process.
"CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE..." –President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/hLTBT34KnG
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 23, 2025
Any cessation in hostilities would come as a huge relief to world leaders frantic about an escalation in violence igniting a wider conflagration.
There was no immediate confirmation from Israel on ending the conflict that has killed hundreds in Iran and two dozen in Israel.
Explosions continued to rock Tehran overnight, with blasts in the north and centre of the Iranian capital described by AFP journalists as some of the strongest since the conflict broke out.
Writing on social media, Araghchi said: "The military operations of our powerful Armed Forces to punish Israel for its aggression continued until the very last minute, at 4am."
The military operations of our powerful Armed Forces to punish Israel for its aggression continued until the very last minute, at 4am.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 24, 2025
Together with all Iranians, I thank our brave Armed Forces who remain ready to defend our dear country until their last drop of blood, and who…
"As of now, there is NO 'agreement' on ceasefire or cessation of military operations. However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 am Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response afterwards," he added.
The adversaries had been swapping missile fire since Israel carried out surprise "preemptive" strikes against Iran on June 13, targeting nuclear and military sites, and prompting Trump to warn of a possible "massive" regional conflict.
As Iran has repeatedly made clear: Israel launched war on Iran, not the other way around.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 24, 2025
As of now, there is NO "agreement" on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations. However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no…
- Israel agrees to ceasefire -
The Israeli government said it had achieved all its objectives in the war with Iran, and that it had agreed to the US-proposed ceasefire after removing the "dual existential threat" of Tehran's nuclear programme and ballistic missiles.
Israel nonetheless warned it would "respond forcefully" to any Iranian violation of the truce.
Oil prices fell five percent on Tuesday after Israel agreed to the proposal.
The ceasefire agreement, as outlined by Trump on social media in a surprise late-night post, would see the arch enemies stop firing in staggered phases.
According to Trump, Iran would unilaterally halt all operations beginning 0400 GMT Tuesday, with Israel following suit 12 hours later.
"It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
He said the "official end" would come after Israel and Iran "wound down and completed their in progress, final missions".
Saudi Arabia welcomes
Saudi Arabia welcomed Tuesday a truce announcement by US President Donald Trump in the Iran-Israel war, which Israel has accepted.
Riyadh "welcomes the announcement by (Trump)... that a formula for a ceasefire agreement was reached between the two parties", a foreign ministry statement said.
EU chief hails Trump announcement
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday said that the continent "welcomes" the announcement of an Iran-Israel ceasfire by US President Donald Trump.
"It's an important step towards restoring stability in a region in tension. This must be our collective priority," she said on X, urging Iran to "engage seriously in a credible diplomatic process".
China urges Iran, Israel to seek 'political resolution'
China urged Iran and Israel on Tuesday to seek a "political resolution" to their conflict as Israel said it had agreed to US President Donald Trump's proposal for a ceasefire.
"The Chinese side calls on relevant parties to return to the correct path of political resolution at an early date," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.
US President Donald Trump said a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was in force on Tuesday, urging both sides to "not violate it" on the 12th day of the war between the two arch-foes.
The Israeli government said that it had agreed to the US-proposed ceasefire after removing the "dual existential threat" of Tehran's nuclear programme and ballistic missiles.
Israel nonetheless warned it would "respond forcefully" to any Iranian violation of the truce.
In response, China said it "hoped that a ceasefire can be achieved as soon as possible".
"The facts have proven that military means cannot bring peace and dialogue and negotiations are the right path to solving problems," Guo added.
"The Chinese side is willing to work together with the international community to contribute efforts to maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East region," he said.
Russia hopes ceasefire will last
Russia said Tuesday it would welcome a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, after both sides and US President Donald Trump announced a halt in hostilities.
"If a ceasefire has indeed been achieved, this can only be welcomed," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that Moscow hoped "that this will be a sustainable ceasefire".
Qatar summons Iran ambassador
Qatar summoned the Iranian ambassador on Tuesday after Iran attacked the major US military base on Qatari soil following American strikes on its nuclear facilities.
The foreign ministry expressed its "strong condemnation" of the attack and repeated that it "retains the right to respond to this egregious violation", a statement said.
Israeli strike killed nuclear scientist
Iranian state television said Tuesday an overnight Israeli strike killed a nuclear scientist in northern Iran, before US President Donald Trump said a ceasefire was taking effect between the Middle Eastern foes.
Citing sources, the broadcaster reported the killing of Mohammad Reza Seddighi Saber at his parents' residence in Astaneh-ye Ashrafiyeh in northern Iran.
Mohammad Reza Seddighi Saber was under US sanctions. Several days ago, his 17-year-old son was reported killed in a strike on their home in Tehran, the broadcaster said.
- Strikes on US base -
The US leader's truce announcement came hours after Iran launched missiles at the largest US military facility in the Middle East -- Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar -- in a move Trump shrugged off as "very weak."
Calling for a de-escalation, Trump said Tehran had given advance notice of the barrage.
Iran's National Security Council confirmed having targeted the base "in response to the US aggressive and insolent action against Iran's nuclear sites and facilities".
But it added that the number of missiles launched "was the same as the number of bombs that the US had used" -- a signal that it had calibrated its response to be directly proportional rather than escalatory.
"This was calibrated and telegraphed in a way that would not result in any American casualties, so that there is an off ramp for both sides," Ali Vaez, a senior advisor at the International Crisis Group, told AFP.
The offensive came after the United States joined its ally Israel's military campaign against Iran, attacking an underground uranium enrichment centre with massive bunker-busting bombs and hitting two other nuclear facilities overnight Saturday into Sunday.
As international concern mounted that Israel's campaign and the US strikes could ignite a wider conflict, French President Emmanuel Macron insisted that "the spiral of chaos must end" while China warned of the potential economic fallout.
- 'Blatant aggression' -
Iran said its assault in Qatar wasn't targeting the Middle Eastern neighbour, but the government in Doha accused Tehran of "blatant aggression" and claimed its right to a "proportional" response.
Iran's state media quoted the Revolutionary Guard Corps announcing that six missiles had hit Al Udeid, which had been evacuated beforehand, according to the Qataris.
The broadside was made up of "short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles," a US defence official said.
AFP reporters heard blasts in central Doha and in Lusail, north of the capital, on Monday evening, and saw projectiles moving across the night sky.
Iranians gathered in central Tehran to celebrate, images on state TV showed, with some waving the flag of the Islamic republic and chanting "Death to America".
Qatar earlier announced the temporary closure of its airspace in light of "developments in the region", while the US embassy and other foreign missions warned their citizens to shelter in place.
Israeli strikes on Iran have killed more than 400 people, Iran's health ministry has said. Twenty-four people have died in Iran's attacks on Israel, according to official figures.