Amid rapidly shifting developments in the Iran-Israel conflict, contradictory claims and fresh hostilities have cast doubt on the existence of any genuine ceasefire. US President Donald Trump declared late Monday that a "complete and total ceasefire" had been agreed between Iran and Israel, set to take effect in phased stages over a 24-hour period. Yet, within hours of his statement, Iran launched ballistic missile strikes on American military facilities across four Middle Eastern nations &mdash; Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq &mdash; deepening regional instability.
President Trump&rsquo;s announcement, made on his Truth Social platform, claimed Iran would initiate a ceasefire followed by Israel, culminating in an official end to what he referred to as the &ldquo;12 Day War.&rdquo; The language suggested a coordinated de-escalation plan, likely shaped by diplomatic pressure from third parties including Qatar.
However, the optimism projected by Trump was swiftly undermined by Iran&rsquo;s actions and statements. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi publicly rejected claims of a finalised ceasefire, insisting that no formal agreement had been reached. He reiterated Tehran's stance that it is responding to what it sees as Israeli aggression, and not the instigator of the current conflict.
&ldquo;There is no agreement on a ceasefire as of now,&rdquo; Araghchi stated. &ldquo;However, if the Israeli regime halts its military aggression by 4:00 AM Tehran time, Iran has no intention to continue its response.&rdquo; He further emphasised that the final decision on cessation of hostilities would be taken at a later point, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the situation.
Meanwhile, following Trump's ceasefire proclamation, Iran proceeded to strike the largest US military base in the Gulf, located near Doha, Qatar. Further missile salvos targeted American installations in Kuwait, Iraq, and Bahrain. Unconfirmed footage shows air defence systems intercepting incoming missiles over Kuwait City, as tension rippled across the region.
In parallel, Israel announced evacuation orders for at least two zones in Tehran, suggesting it was preparing for possible escalation, not de-escalation. Despite Israeli media reports indicating that Prime Minister Netanyahu may be open to halting fire &mdash; conditional upon Iran ceasing its attacks &mdash; events on the ground tell a different story.
While some officials hinted at possible backchannel agreements brokered by Gulf states, the ground realities appear far from peaceful. The volatility of the situation has also severely impacted global oil markets, with energy prices surging amid fears of wider conflict and potential shipping disruption.
As Tuesday unfolds, both military developments and diplomatic manoeuvrings continue in real-time. What was declared as a moment of relief could well prove to be a fleeting lull in an unresolved and deeply volatile confrontation.

US President Donald Trump and his team (image source social media)

Confusion reigns as Trump hails ceasefire while Iran hits US bases in four countries

Trump Declares Ceasefire, Iran Fires Missiles

Confusion reigns as Trump hails ceasefire while Iran hits US bases in four countries

June 24, 2025 | 08:17 IST