Iran-Israel Ceasefire Unravels: The Truth Behind Trump’s Midnight Deal
- Lynn Matthews
- 53 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Late on June 23, 2025, President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, aiming to end a volatile 12-day war sparked by Israeli strikes and escalated by U.S. bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites. Hailing it as the end of the “12 Day War,” Trump claimed the deal—brokered with Qatar’s help—would bring “peace, love, and prosperity” to a region on the brink. Yet, within hours, both sides traded accusations of violations, with Iran launching missiles at Israel and Israel threatening “intense strikes” on Tehran. As air raid sirens wail and global leaders hold their breath, the ceasefire teeters, raising doubts about whether Trump’s gamble can halt a conflict rooted in Iran’s theocratic defiance and Israel’s security fears.
A Fragile Truce Takes Shape
Trump announced the ceasefire on Truth Social, stating Iran would halt attacks at midnight ET on June 24, with Israel following 12 hours later, ending the war by midnight June 25. “THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!” he posted, crediting his team’s negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatari mediators, including Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Vice President JD Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff coordinated with Iran via Qatar, leveraging U.S. strikes on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan as pressure to force Tehran to the table.
The Iran-Israel Ceasefire deal followed Iran’s retaliatory missile strike on the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on June 23, which Trump called “very weak” and bloodless due to prior evacuation. Iranian state media claimed the attack “imposed” a ceasefire on the “Zionist enemy,” framing it as a victory after U.S. “aggression.” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi clarified there was no formal agreement, but Iran would stop firing if Israel ceased attacks by 4 a.m. Tehran time. Israel later confirmed acceptance, with Netanyahu stating it had “eliminated the Iranian nuclear threat.”
Trump’s team touted the ceasefire as a triumph, with Vance claiming on Fox News that Iran’s nuclear infrastructure was “incapable” of producing a bomb post-strikes. The White House argued the U.S. intervention—B-2 bombers dropping 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bombs—created the leverage for peace. Yet, IAEA Director Rafael Grossi noted “very significant damage” at Fordow but cautioned Iran may have moved nuclear material to secret sites, casting doubt on the strikes’ decisive impact.
Violations Shatter Early Hopes
The ceasefire unraveled almost instantly. Hours after Trump’s announcement, Iranian state TV reported a truce at 7:30 a.m. Tehran time, but Israel’s military detected missile launches toward Tel Aviv and Beersheba, killing at least three and wounding dozens. A residential building in Beersheba was hit, with emergency services scrambling amid debris. Iran’s SNN news agency insisted these were its “last round” before the ceasefire, but Israel called it a “severe violation.” Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered “high-intensity” strikes on Tehran, accusing Iran of bad faith.
Iran denied violating the truce, with its armed forces claiming no missiles were fired post-deadline. Meanwhile, explosions rocked Tehran early Tuesday, with residents reporting Israeli jets targeting Revolutionary Guards sites and Evin prison. Trump, visibly frustrated, accused both sides of breaking the deal. “Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they dropped a boat load of bombs,” he told ABC News, adding, “I’m not happy with Iran either.” In a Truth Social post, he urged Israel: “DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!”
The violations highlight the ceasefire’s fragility. X posts reflect skepticism, with one user noting Iran accepted a “temporary cessation” without terms or concessions, predicting it “won’t last long.” Another highlighted Iran’s missile waves killing civilians, undermining Trump’s claim of agreement.
A Persian Legacy vs. Theocratic Defiance
This conflict, set against Iran’s storied past as the Persian Empire—a beacon of culture, science, and tolerance before the 1979 Islamic Revolution—underscores the theocracy’s rigid stance. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, facing his “most dire” moment, as analyst Karim Sadjadpour told CNN, vowed defiance before the strikes, rejecting Trump’s call for “unconditional surrender.” Iran’s missile barrages and IRGC threats to activate “sleeper cells” or close the Strait of Hormuz reflect a regime prioritizing ideological resistance over diplomacy.
Trump’s hope that strikes would force negotiations misreads this mindset. The ceasefire, lacking formal terms or sanctions relief, offers Iran little incentive to comply. Araghchi’s insistence on Israel halting first and Iran’s parliament drafting a Non-Proliferation Treaty exit signal a hardening stance. Meanwhile, Israel’s goal of dismantling Iran’s nuclear and missile programs remains unmet, with Netanyahu claiming to be “very close” but unwilling to pause without guarantees.
Can the Ceasefire Hold?
The ceasefire’s prospects are dim. Iran’s theocracy, humiliated by U.S. and Israeli strikes, faces domestic pressure to retaliate, with crowds in Tehran celebrating the Qatar base attack. Israel, emboldened by U.S. support, sees any Iranian missile as justification to resume bombing. Qatar’s mediation, while key, struggles against mutual distrust.
Global reactions reflect the stakes. The UN’s Antonio Guterres warned of “unimaginable” destruction without diplomacy, while Russia and China pushed a Security Council ceasefire resolution the U.S. may veto. European allies urged talks, but Iran’s alignment with Moscow and Beijing complicates Western efforts. Oil prices, already up to $80.28 per barrel, could surge to $100 if Iran disrupts the Strait of Hormuz.
At home, Trump faces backlash. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called the strikes unconstitutional, demanding impeachment, while Republicans like Derrick Van Orden defended Trump’s Article II powers. The lack of congressional approval fuels debate, with Sen. Bernie Sanders likening the strikes to the 2003 Iraq invasion.
A Region Still Burning
As sirens echo in Tel Aviv and Tehran, Trump’s ceasefire hangs by a thread. The U.S. strikes may have delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions, but they’ve inflamed a theocracy unlikely to bend. Israel’s relentless campaign and Iran’s missile volleys suggest neither side trusts the other to stop. Once a cradle of civilization, Iran now stands at a crossroads—will its leaders choose peace or plunge the Middle East deeper into chaos?
Wecu Media will continue covering the ceasefire’s fallout, from nuclear risks to U.S.-Iran tensions.