Israel-Iran latest: Iran says ceasefire has begun after Trump announces ‘complete and total’ halt to 12-day war – UK Times

The Israeli military claims it has identified a fresh wave of missiles launched from Iran and issued a fifth warning for its residents to take shelter.

Iranian nuclear scientist Sedighi Saber was killed in Israeli airstrikes just before the ceasefire between Tel Aviv and Tehran took effect this morning, Iran’s Press TV reported.

The targeted attack on Saber was carried out near the main streets of Ferdowsi and Vali Asr in the downtown area of Tehran, the report said.

Israel has reportedly killed several of Iran’s top nuclear scientists since it launched its military operation against Iran on 13 June.

Given how badly shaken Israelis have been by the 12 days of Iranian missile and drone attacks, it is unlikely that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not, at least, pause Israel’s campaign.

Israel has been paralysed throughout the last 12 days, and Israeli military officials estimate that Iran could keep up the current levels of attack with up to 20 missiles a day almost indefinitely.

At least three people were killed after an Iranian ballistic missile struck a residential apartment block in southern Israel’s Beersheba, Times of Israel reported.

Israel has accused Iran of firing at least three waves of missiles since the ceasefire announced by US president Donald Trump came into effect today at 4am (local time). The IDF said earlier it expected it would take some time for the ceasefire to be implemented on the ground, however.

Iran has repeatedly targeted Beersheba throughout the almost two-week conflict with Israel, including striking one of the biggest hospitals in the region.

There’s still some confusion about the exact nature of the apparent ceasefire between Iran and Israel, but US President Donald Trump is continuing his victory lap over the truce, which he claims will begin momentarily.

“Israel & Iran came to me, almost simultaneously, and said, ‘PEACE!’ I knew the time was NOW,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social site. “The World, and the Middle East, are the real WINNERS! Both Nations will see tremendous LOVE, PEACE, AND PROSPERITY in their futures. They have so much to gain, and yet, so much to lose if they stray from the road of RIGHTEOUSNESS & TRUTH. The future for Israel & Iran is UNLIMITED, & filled with great PROMISE. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH!”

In reality, the process appeared far messier, with Trump’s earlier announcement of the ceasefire reportedly catching some US officials by surprise and prompting Iran’s foreign minister to state that no deal had been finalized yet.

US president Donald Trump has christened the conflict between Israel and Iran the “12 Day War”, an apparent reference to the 1967 Middle East War, commonly known as the “Six Day War,” in which Israel fought a group of Arab countries including Egypt, Jordan and Syria.

Mr Trump’s reference carries emotional weight for the Arab world, particularly Palestinians. In the 1967 war, Israel captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem from Jordan, the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, and the Golan Heights from Syria. Though Israel later gave the Sinai back to Egypt, it still holds the other territories.

President Trump communicated directly with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure the ceasefire, according to a senior White House official who insisted on anonymity to discuss the Monday talks.

Vice president JD Vance, US secretary of state Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff communicated with the Iranians through direct and indirect channels, the Associated Press reported.

The Israeli military this morning said a third bout of missiles was launched from Tehran, even after the Iranian foreign minister claimed the last of the missiles went out at 4am.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in his latest post on X said Tehran’s military operation to “punish Israel for its aggression continued until the very last minute, at 4am”.

“Together with all Iranians, I thank our brave Armed Forces who remain ready to defend our dear country until their last drop of blood, and who responded to any attack by the enemy until the very last minute,” Mr Araghchi said.

US president Donald Trump has claimed that Israel and Iran have agreed to a “complete and total” ceasefire, set to begin around 12am Eastern time today.

Iran said as long as Israel stopped attacks by 4am (local time), Tehran would halt its offensive. However, nearly an hour after that deadline, Israel’s military sounded sirens and claimed Tehran fired a wave of ballistic missiles.