Just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran to end a 12-day war, Iran launched a fresh wave of missile attacks on Israel, killing at least three people in Beersheba and reigniting fears of renewed escalation in the region.
Ceasefire Undermined by Iranian Missile Attacks
Israel’s military confirmed on Tuesday that six waves of missiles were fired by Iran, with explosions reported in the areas of Tel Aviv and Beersheba. Israel’s national ambulance service reported three civilian deaths in Beersheba — the first confirmed Israeli casualties since the ceasefire announcement late Monday.
A missile launched from Iran is intercepted, amid the Israel-Iran conflict, as seen from Haifa, Israel, June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Florion Goga
The Iranian missile attack appears to contradict statements made by both Iranian and U.S. officials just hours earlier, raising concerns about whether the ceasefire deal can hold amid continued hostilities.
Trump Announces Truce, Hails “12-Day War” Resolution
According to Reuters, President Trump had brokered the ceasefire through calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian intermediaries, including Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Trump hailed the deal on his Truth Social platform, calling it a testament to the “Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence” of both countries and dubbing the conflict the “12-Day War.”
A senior White House official confirmed that Israel agreed to a ceasefire contingent upon Iran halting all further attacks. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had issued a conditional statement: Iran would only stop military operations if Israel ceased what he called its “illegal aggression” by 4 a.m. Tehran time on Tuesday.
A passenger plane flies during sunrise as seen from Al Thumama, after Qatar reopened its airspace after a brief suspension, following Monday’s missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base by Iran, Qatar, June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Araqchi noted, “The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later,” signaling that the agreement was not yet final from Tehran’s perspective.
Iran’s Last Salvo Before Ceasefire?
Iran’s semi-official SNN news agency reported that the Tuesday strikes may represent the final round of missile launches before the ceasefire takes full effect. But the damage was already done. The strikes, paired with earlier threats from Tehran, suggest Iran may be seeking to finalize its retaliation before fully committing to peace.
President Trump, in an earlier statement, indicated both parties would be allowed to complete “missions underway” before transitioning into a “staged ceasefire.” Still, the renewed violence has cast doubt on the viability of that plan.
Emergency personnel assist a resident at an impacted residential site, following a missile attack from Iran on Israel, amid the Israel-Iran conflict in Be’er Sheva, Israel June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
Regional Tensions Remain High
Even amid ceasefire declarations, the situation on the ground remains volatile. Israeli Army Radio reported alarms in the Golan Heights due to suspected hostile aircraft, and the military issued multiple evacuation warnings for residents of Tehran, indicating continued military readiness.
Israel’s attack campaign, launched in coordination with U.S. forces over the weekend, included strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, political targets in Tehran, and Evin prison — a notorious site for political detainees. U.S. bombers reportedly dropped 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs on Iranian underground nuclear facilities, with the Trump administration insisting the goal was to neutralize Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
A member of the security walks past an impacted residential site, following a missile attack from Iran on Israel, amid the Israel-Iran conflict in Be’er Sheva, Israel June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
Disputed Nuclear Threat
Vice President JD Vance claimed Iran was “very close to having a nuclear weapon,” adding that “Iran is incapable of building a nuclear weapon with the equipment they have because we destroyed it.” However, U.S. intelligence assessments reportedly remain unchanged, maintaining that Iran is not currently pursuing nuclear weapons.
Iran has long denied having a nuclear weapons program. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei recently stated that while Iran does not currently seek a nuclear weapon, no foreign power could stop it if it did.
Israel, widely believed to be the Middle East’s only nuclear-armed nation, has neither confirmed nor denied possessing such weapons and is not a signatory to the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
A satellite image shows the Isfahan enrichment facility in Iran in this handout image dated June 14, 2025. Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY MANDATORY CREDIT NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO
Markets React to Ceasefire, Not Missiles
Despite the renewed missile fire, global markets initially responded positively to the ceasefire announcement. S&P 500 futures rose 0.4% late Monday, and U.S. crude oil prices fell to a one-week low in early Tuesday trading — a sign that traders anticipated reduced risk of supply disruption in the region.
