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Topics: Iran, Israel, Donald Trump, World News, Politics
Niamh Shackleton
Topics: Iran, Israel, Donald Trump, World News, Politics
Iran's foreign minister was quick to correct Donald Trump when he first announced that Iran had agreed a ceasefire with Israel.
For days there's been strikes ordered between Israel and Iran after Israel launched surprised attacks on Iranian nuclear and military sites on June 13.
Iran went on to retaliate, and ultimately the US got involved by issuing its own airstrikes on three nuclear sites in Iran over the weekend.
President Trump quickly urged Iran not to retaliate and to come to an agreement with Israel instead, but it tried to strike a US air base in Qatar last night (June 23).
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Qatari air defences were able to intercept the missiles, and officials have confirmed there were no casualties.
Trump went on to call Iran's move 'a very weak response' and thanked Tehran 'for giving us early notice' to avoid any casualties.
He then claimed Israel and Iran had agreed a 'complete and total ceasefire' to be phased in over 24 hours. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi quickly corrected the POTUS at the time, however.
Taking to Twitter he penned: "As Iran has repeatedly made clear: Israel launched war on Iran, not the other way around.
"As of now, there is NO 'agreement' on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations. However, 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.
"The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later."
Araghchi continued in a follow-up tweet: "The military operations of our powerful Armed Forces to punish Israel for its aggression continued until the very last minute, at 4am.
"Together 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."
In an update issued in the last hour, Trump declared that the ceasefire is now 'in effect' and urged both Iran and Israel to 'not violate it'.
Speaking in a phone interview to NBC News, Trump expressed his hopes that the ceasefire will be 'forever'.
"I think the ceasefire is unlimited. It’s going to go forever," he told the news outlet.
When asked if the war between Iran and Israel is over, Trump replied: "Yes. I don’t believe they will ever be shooting at each other again."
Iranian state TV has since confirmed that the ceasefire has begun.
Israel has echoed similar sentiments in a newly issued statement and said that it agreed to the ceasefire after 'achieving the objectives' of its attacks on Iran, per BBC.
"Israel thanks President Trump and the United States for their support in defence and their participation in eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat," the statement adds.