Israel-Iran Highlights: ‘Iran isnt the nation that surrenders’, Trump’s ceasefire post ‘completely false’ says Tehran news agency

Israel-Iran conflict: US President Donald Trump declared a “complete and total” ceasefire between Israel and Iran, expressing hopes that the pause in hostilities would become permanent. Posting on social media, Trump outlined that the ceasefire was set to take effect in approximately six hours and last for 12 hours, eventually bringing a formal end to the 12-day war.

In his post, Trump described the plan as a two-phase process that would officially begin with Iran halting its military operations, followed 12 hours later by Israel doing the same. According to the president, both nations had agreed to these terms and would allow for a full 24-hour period that would conclude with what he called “the end of the war.”

“Israel and Iran have agreed that this is a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE,” Trump wrote. “Iran will officially begin at the 0-hour mark. Twelve hours after that, Israel will implement its own CEASEFIRE. Finally, after 24 hours of mutual respect, the world will bear witness to the official end of this 12-day war.”

The United States launched airstrikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities-Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan on Sunday. President Donald Trump declared the operation had “obliterated” its targets, although officials are still evaluating the true impact on Iran’s nuclear program.

Operation Midnight Hammer: Dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” the attack involved B-2 stealth bombers dropping over a dozen “bunker-buster” bombs on Fordow and Natanz. Simultaneously, Tomahawk cruise missiles targeted Iran’s facility in Isfahan. US timelines indicate the strikes achieved their objectives with precision.

Iran’s Response: In an emergency UN Security Council meeting, Iranian officials vehemently condemned both the United States and Israel. Tehran expressed skepticism about any diplomatic resolution, while world leaders anxiously await Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s public response.

The strikes have pulled the United States further into the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, where the two sides have exchanged attacks for more than a week. Senior US officials maintain the country is not at war with Iran. However, President Trump warned that further action could follow unless Tehran seeks peace, and hinted at the possibility of regime change if Iran refuses to comply.

Iran plans to close oil corridor Strait Of Hormuz: Iran’s Parliament has approved closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, though the Supreme National Security Council will make the final call, Press TV reported on Sunday (June 22). The move comes as Iran weighs its options after US strikes on three Iranian military sites earlier in the day.

While most experts previously believed Iran would stop short of blocking this vital waterway, the latest US attacks appear to have shifted that calculus. Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Aragchi, when questioned about a potential closure, stated that “a variety of options are available with Iran,” signaling that all measures remain on the table.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. About 20 per cent of global oil and gas supplies pass through its narrow 33 km-wide shipping lane that links the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. Any disruption here could have a significant impact on global energy markets and further escalate regional tensions.

Why is Iran under attack? Iran is under attack primarily because Israel aims to halt Tehran’s nuclear program, which it views as an existential threat. Since June 13, 2025, Israel has launched airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites, including uranium enrichment facilities and centrifuge production plants near Tehran and Isfahan. These strikes have killed hundreds, including civilians and military personnel, and damaged key infrastructure.

Israel’s goal is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability, which it believes would destabilise the Middle East and threaten Israeli security. In retaliation, Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel, escalating the conflict. The war also involves targeted killings of senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard commanders linked to arms transfers to proxy groups. Diplomatic efforts have so far failed, and Iran’s leadership warns that any US intervention would be extremely dangerous, underscoring the high stakes of this ongoing conflict.

What IAEA said? The IAEA, which initially flagged Iran’s uranium enrichment activities, told Sky News that despite Iran enriching uranium up to 60%, the agency cannot confirm any systematic effort by Iran to produce a nuclear weapon. However, Iran’s failure to meet its safeguards obligations, as noted in a recent IAEA report, combined with Israel’s Operation Rising Lion strikes, has heightened serious international concerns.