The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran is faltering after a new attack from Tehran
- Netanyahu proclaims victory, Trump calls for calm
- Iran promises to restore its nuclear industry
- A fragile ceasefire under threat
Shortly after the newly declared ceasefire came into effect, Israel announced that it would respond to a new attack launched from Iran against its territory, thus violating the terms of a fragile truce announced just hours earlier.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed on Tuesday that he had instructed the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to attack strategic targets in Tehran as an immediate response to Iranian aggression. According to Katz, this measure is intended to send an unequivocal message to Iran that any breach of the ceasefire will have direct consequences at the heart of the regime.
🚨 Sirens sounding in northern Israel due to missile fire from Iran 🚨 pic.twitter.com/woGhqD7VCK
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 24, 2025
Despite the announcement of a truce brokered in part by the United States and Qatar, Iran fired at least 20 ballistic missiles over a period of more than two hours, hitting areas in northern, central and southern Israel.
The most devastating attack occurred in Beer Sheva, where two missiles struck a residential building. One of them pierced an outer wall and destroyed two security shelters, killing at least five people and injuring 22 others. Rescue operations continued into the early hours of the morning to locate possible survivors under the rubble.
Four people were murdered in this morning’s ballistic missile attack on Beersheba this morning. pic.twitter.com/x8nGuxwhE2
— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) June 24, 2025
Brigadier General Effi Defrin, IDF spokesman, warned that ‘there is still danger,’ confirming that there are no changes to the security guidelines of the Home Front Command and that Israeli troops will remain on high alert.
Netanyahu proclaims victory, Trump calls for calm
In parallel with the military response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel had achieved all its objectives in the 12-day war against Iran, including the elimination of the existential threat posed by its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Netanyahu assured that the IDF achieved total control of the airspace over Tehran, dealt severe blows to the Iranian military leadership and destroyed dozens of key targets of the regime.
Netanyahu thanked US President Donald Trump for his decisive support and warned that any new violation of the ceasefire would be met with ‘maximum force’. For his part, Trump confirmed on his Truth Social platform the entry into force of a phased ceasefire: first Iran would halt fire for 12 hours, then Israel would observe a similar pause, and after 24 hours the war would be officially declared over. Following the Iranian attacks, Trump reiterated his message: ‘The ceasefire is in effect, please do not violate it!’
Donald Trump anuncia un alto el fuego completo y total entre Israel e Irán que comenzará dentro de seis horas. No sé si interpretarlo como la derrota del régimen iraní o que el sentimiento es que ha llegado el momento de poner fin a la guerra. pic.twitter.com/CCQZCgiGGz
— Marta González (@Bejaelma) June 23, 2025
On the other hand, JD Vance, Trump's deputy vice president, stated that the US attacks destroyed much of Iran's nuclear infrastructure, leaving the regime unable to produce nuclear weapons in the short term, which opens ‘an opportunity to restart a real peace process.’
Iran promises to restore its nuclear industry
Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic of Iran is assessing the damage to its nuclear programme after intense Israeli bombing of regime targets, including an unprecedented attack on Evin prison in Tehran, known for housing political dissidents and human rights violations.
Also, before announcing the ceasefire, the IDF attacked the so-called ‘Israel destruction clock,’ installed by protesters in 2017 during a march commemorating the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.
Evin Prison is the most feared regime political prison in Iran. The site of notorious torture of countless human rights activists.
— Drew Pavlou 🇦🇺🇺🇦🇹🇼 (@DrewPavlou) June 23, 2025
Israel just blew open the gates to the prison. Not a single person can say this is not justified pic.twitter.com/aPMKzH89Rv
Regarding the attacks on nuclear infrastructure, Iranian nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami said plans were already in place to restore the nuclear industry and ‘avoid disruptions in production and services.’
Hours before Trump announced the ceasefire, Iran also attacked the US air base at Al-Udeid in Qatar with ten missiles in retaliation for the bombings. However, Washington and Doha were informed in advance, allowing the base to be evacuated and avoiding casualties, in what analysts described as a ‘symbolic and calibrated’ response to save face with its population without escalating the conflict with the United States.
The skies over Doha, Qatar as Iran throws a hissy fit pic.twitter.com/dqsACexIFv
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) June 23, 2025
A fragile ceasefire under threat
Iranian state television confirmed the start of the ceasefire after four waves of attacks and assured that its military operation continued ‘until the last moment.’ Senior Israeli officials, for their part, indicated that Tehran pushed for an immediate truce while Israel preferred to prolong operations for a few more days to secure strategic objectives.
In this context of tension and mistrust, the truce hangs in the balance. Iran's violation and the possible Israeli response in Tehran underscore the volatility of the situation and the real possibility of a new escalation.
