US President Donald Trump reaffirmed, on the morning of this Tuesday (24), the validity of the ceasefire between Israel and Iran after an exchange of attacks between the countries until, at least, the early hours of the 12th day of the conflict in the Middle East.
“Israel will not attack Iran. All planes will turn around and return home, while giving a friendly ‘Airplane Wave’ to Iran. No one will get hurt, the ceasefire is in effect,” Trump said on a social network.
Iranian authorities are celebrating a “victory” in the conflict against Israel, claiming that Tel Aviv had to “beg” the US for a ceasefire.
At the same time, Israel and Iran report that they are monitoring the enemy to respond to any aggression.
After Trump announced the ceasefire on Monday night, Israel and Iran continued the fighting. Iran denied accepting the terms of the agreement but now promises to suspend hostilities.
According to Iranian authorities, Israel bombed the country on Monday night (24), assassinating “a group of compatriots in a brutal attack.”
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard said it retaliated against the attack with the 22nd wave of missiles consisting of 14 projectiles against Israel on Tuesday morning targeting “military and support centers of the Zionist regime.”
For its part, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that it intercepted most of the projectiles but acknowledged that missiles fell in the city of Beersheba, killing four people. The IDF released images of a building with its entire facade destroyed and rescue teams working.
The Israeli army confirmed that it attacked Iran on Monday night.
“Israeli Air Force jets struck dozens of military targets in Tehran overnight, deploying more than 100 munitions. In addition, we inflicted repeated and severe damage to [military] manufacturing infrastructure in Tehran,” it said in a statement.
Iran reported that two leaders of the Basij Organization, a paramilitary militia linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, were assassinated in the attacks on Tehran: Mohammad Taqi Yousefvand, commander of Basij intelligence protection, and General Meysam Rezvanpour, deputy officer for social affairs of the Basij.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Kartz, said he instructed the military “to respond vigorously to Iran’s ceasefire violation with powerful attacks,” accusing Iran of violating the ceasefire.
Trump, meanwhile, said that “both countries” violated the negotiation. When announcing the terms of the agreement, Trump said Iran should suspend attacks first, giving Israel a few more hours to continue bombing Tehran.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, said on Monday night that there was no ceasefire agreement.
“However, provided that the Israeli regime ceases its illegal aggression against the Iranian people by 4 a.m. Tehran time, we have no intention of continuing our response after that. The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later,” he said on a social network.
Understand the conflict
Israel accuses Iran of being close to developing a nuclear weapon and launched a surprise attack against the country on the 13th, expanding the war in the Middle East.
On Saturday (21), the United States attacked three Iranian nuclear plants: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
Iran claims its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only and that it was in the middle of negotiations with the United States to establish agreements ensuring compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, of which it is a signatory.
However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had been accusing Iran of not complying with all its obligations, despite acknowledging that it has no proof that the country is building an atomic bomb.
Iran accuses the agency of acting in a “politically motivated” manner and directed by Western powers such as the US, France, and Great Britain, which have supported Israel in the war against Tehran.
In March, the US intelligence sector reported that Iran was not building nuclear weapons, information that is now being questioned by President Donald Trump himself.
Despite Israel not accepting that Tehran have nuclear weapons, various sources throughout history have indicated that the country maintains a broad secret nuclear program since the 1950s, having developed at least 90 atomic warheads.
Source: Agência Brasil