Tel Aviv (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on Tuesday that he had instructed the military to target Tehran in response to what he claimed were Iranian-fired missiles, a move he said breached the ceasefire that U.S. President Donald Trump had announced hours earlier.
On Tuesday, Trump announced that a ceasefire between Israel and Iran was now in effect, and urged both sides not to breach it. This came just hours after Iran launched a series of missiles, resulting in at least four fatalities, according to Israel’s ambulance service.
Just over three hours earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump had announced that the ceasefire was now in place. Katz stated that the military had been ordered to launch high-intensity operations against targets in Tehran.
However, Iran’s ISNA student news agency disputed reports that Iran had launched missiles at Israel after the ceasefire went into effect, calling them false. The developments sparked initial concerns about the ceasefire, aimed at bringing an end to 12 days of conflict.
Katz stated in a statement that he had ordered the military to “continue high-intensity operations targeting regime assets and terror infrastructure in Tehran” in light of “Iran’s blatant violation of the ceasefire declared by the President of the United States.”
What goals did Netanyahu say Israel has achieved?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the ceasefire, stating that Israel had met its objectives in launching a surprise attack on Iran on June 13, aimed at destroying Iran’s nuclear program and missile capabilities. “Israel thanks President Trump and the United States for their support in defense and their participation in eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat,” Netanyahu had said.
“In light of the achievement of the operation’s goals, and in full coordination with President Trump, Israel agreed to the President’s proposal for a mutual ceasefire,” the statement said.
Did Iran agree to halt retaliation under conditions?
On the other hand, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has clarified that, as of early Tuesday, June 24, there was no formal ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel. However, Araqchi stated that if Israel ceased its attacks against Iran by 4:00 a.m. Tehran time, Iran would have “no intention to continue our response afterwards” and would suspend its retaliatory strikes.
He emphasized that Iran’s military actions were in direct response to what he described as Israeli “illegal aggression,” and not part of an offensive war initiated by Tehran.
