Iran-Israel War Heads Toward Pause After Trump Claims Ceasefire
Smoke rises from a location allegedly used as IRGC's Sarallah Headquarters in north of Tehran, Iran on June 23.
Photographer: Elyas/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images
Iran and Israel appeared to be nearing a pause in their 12-day war after President Donald Trump announced a surprise ceasefire in a conflict that saw key Iranian military leaders and scientists killed, US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites and a salvo of missiles launched at Qatar.
The specific timing of the pause — and Israel’s response to Trump’s announcement — remains uncertain, but tensions seemed to be settling. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post that his country, which has seen its defenses significantly degraded, had no intention to keep retaliating against Israeli attacks after the early morning hours.