United States President Donald Trump on Monday claimed that Iran and Israel had agreed to a 鈥渃omplete and total鈥 ceasefire after ten days of hostilities.
Iran鈥檚 Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi maintained that there had been no agreement on a ceasefire or cessation of military operations as of now.
鈥淗owever, 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,鈥 he said.
Minutes later, he said that Iranian military operations 鈥渢o punish Israel for its aggression鈥 continued until the last minute, or till 4 am local time. 鈥淭ogether 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 responded to any attack by the enemy until the very last minute.鈥 he said.
Israel is yet to respond to the developments but there were no reports of Israeli strikes in Iran after 4 am local time, the Associated Press reported.
However, the Israeli military said it has identified missiles launched toward Israel from Iran, and that its defensive systems were activated, CNN reported.
鈥淎 short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel,鈥 the Israel Defense Forces said. 鈥淎t this time, the IAF [Israeli Air Force] is operating to intercept and strike where necessary to eliminate the threat.鈥
Announcing the ceasefire on social media, Trump claimed that Israel and Iran had 鈥渇ully agreed鈥 to it.
鈥淐ongratulations to everyone!鈥 Trump said. 鈥淚t has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total ceasefire (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!), for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ended!鈥
He added that Iran will start the ceasefire officially and 鈥渦pon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the ceasefire and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official end to the 12 day war will be saluted by the World鈥.
The US president added that both sides will remain 鈥減eaceful and respectful鈥 during each ceasefire.
鈥淥n the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, 鈥渢he 12 day war,鈥 he said.
Trump added that this was a 鈥淲ar that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn鈥檛, and never will!鈥
Trump鈥檚 announcement of a ceasefire came after Iran struck the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which houses US troops, Al Jazeera reported. The US president said no Americans or Qataris were killed or wounded in the attack.
Shortly before announcing the purported agreement, the US president thanked the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani 鈥渇or all that he has done in seeking Peace for the Region鈥.
Following the strike on the Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar had shut down its airspace. However, Qatar Airways early on Tuesday said its flights have been reinstated after the opening of the country鈥檚 airspace.
鈥淥ur focus at this time is to help our passengers return home or reach their onward journey safely and smoothly,鈥 it said in a statement. 鈥淎s operations resume, we anticipate significant delays to our flight schedule.鈥
The US had joined Israel鈥檚 war against Iran in the early hours of Sunday. Trump had said that the country carried out a 鈥渧ery successful attack鈥 on the nuclear sites of Fordo, Natanz and Esfahan in Iran.
On June 13, the Israeli military struck what it claimed were nuclear targets, and also other sites, in Iran with the aim of stalling Tehran鈥檚 nuclear programme. Iran retaliated with missile attacks on Israel.
Washington is an ally of Israel and acts as a guarantor of the country鈥檚 security.
Araghchi had on Sunday had called the US strikes a 鈥済rave violation of the United Nations Charter, international law and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons鈥.
While Israel has claimed that Iran was 鈥渃loser than ever鈥 to obtaining a nuclear weapon, Iran has long maintained that its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes.
Indian airline operations hit
The developments in West Asia affected airline operations by Indian carriers, with airlines IndiGo and Air India issuing travel advisories.
In the early hours of Tuesday, IndiGo said its flight operations to and from Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, Dammam, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Madinah, Fujairah, Jeddah, Muscat, Sharjah, Riyadh, Ras AI-Khaimah and Tbilisi had been suspended at least until 10 am.
However, in an update posted on X in the morning, IndiGo said that with airports with West Asia gradually opening, it was 鈥減rudently and progressively resuming operations鈥 on these routes. 鈥淲e continue to monitor the situation closely and are fully considering the safest available flight paths to ensure secure and seamless travel. Please stay updated via our mobile app or website,鈥 it said.
Air India also suspended operations in West Asia, the east coast of North America and Europe till further notice. 鈥淥ur India-bound flights from North America are diverting back to their respective origins and others are being diverted back to India or re-routed away from the closed airspaces,鈥 it said.