NEW DELHI: Former US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran and Israel have agreed to a "complete and total ceasefire," potentially ending nearly two weeks of heightened hostilities that had pushed the Middle East to the brink of a wider conflict.
Announcing the development on his social media platform, Trump said the 12-day war between the two arch-rivals was "officially over" following successful diplomatic efforts. He also credited Qatar for mediating the truce between Iranian and Israeli officials. However, there was no immediate official confirmation from either Tehran or Jerusalem regarding the ceasefire.
"The total and complete ceasefire between Israel and Iran is now in effect. The war is officially over," Trump posted, adding that both sides had agreed to sequential halts in military operations over a 24-hour period.
As per the terms reportedly brokered, Iran was to pause attacks for 12 hours starting early Tuesday, following which Israel would observe a similar 12-hour halt. Details on the exact modalities of the truce, its verification, and enforcement mechanisms remain unclear.
Iranian officials, however, gave a cautious response to Trump's announcement. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that no formal ceasefire deal had been signed but hinted that Iran would halt its military response if Israel stopped its attacks by 4 am Tehran time (8:30 pm GMT).
Interestingly, shortly after this deadline, multiple missiles were fired into Israeli territory. Local media reports from Israel claimed that at least 3-4 people were killed in the latest strikes, casting doubt over the durability of the ceasefire.
Iran's state news agency SNN reported that the last batch of missiles was launched just minutes before the truce was set to take effect.
Global financial markets responded positively to the ceasefire hopes. International oil prices dropped by nearly 4% in early Asian trade, while US stock futures and major Asian equity indices recorded gains. Analysts attributed the market optimism to a possible de-escalation in the region, which had threatened to disrupt vital energy supplies.
In a related development, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait reopened their airspace to international flights after having closed them during the recent hostilities. Qatar played a crucial diplomatic role in mediating between the two countries, according to sources familiar with the talks.
Despite Trump's claims, experts and regional analysts remain skeptical about the sustainability of the ceasefire given the ambiguity in official statements from Iran and Israel and the continued reports of sporadic attacks. The United Nations and major world powers have urged both sides to exercise restraint and formalise the ceasefire through diplomatic channels.
If confirmed, the ceasefire would bring an end to the most dangerous flare-up in Iran-Israel relations in recent years, which had raised fears of a broader regional war.
