Iran Confirms Ceasefire with Israel After Deadly Missile Strikes on Be’er Sheva

Tehran/Jerusalem, June 24, 2025 : In a dramatic turn in the ongoing Middle East conflict, Iranian state media confirmed on Tuesday that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel has officially come into effect at 7:30 am (Tehran local time). The announcement came just hours after Iran launched a deadly missile attack on Israel’s Be’er Sheva, killing at least four people and injuring several others.

The missile, which struck a residential apartment complex, triggered air raid sirens across Be’er Sheva early Tuesday morning. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that three missiles were launched from Iran within a span of one hour.

The ceasefire follows a dramatic escalation in hostilities that began with Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, launched on June 13, targeting Iranian military and nuclear facilities. This was followed by Iranian retaliatory missile strikes on Israeli territory, and further escalated when the United States bombed three nuclear sites in Iran on Sunday.

In response, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei vowed swift retaliation. On Monday night, Iran fired missiles at U.S. military bases in Qatar and Iraq, prompting fears of a broader regional war.

Hours later, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a “complete and total ceasefire”, claiming that both Iran and Israel had agreed to halt military actions. Speaking on Truth Social, Trump said the ceasefire, which he claimed began around midnight Washington time, marks the “official END” of what he termed the “12 Day War.”

While Iran has confirmed the ceasefire through its official media, Israel has yet to issue a formal statement. However, no new Israeli strikes on Iranian territory have been reported after 4:00 am Tehran time, indicating a de facto halt in hostilities."The war ends as it began – fast, fierce, and fraught with the threat of escalation," said a senior analyst in Jerusalem. "But the silence this morning is telling — both sides may be testing the durability of this ceasefire."

The global community has welcomed the move, urging both sides to maintain restraint and pursue diplomatic channels. Humanitarian concerns are rising as both nations assess the damage inflicted over nearly two weeks of intensive warfare.

As the situation remains fluid, regional leaders and international stakeholders are closely monitoring developments, with calls for UN-mediated dialogue growing louder.