Iran’s Supreme National Security Council announced a “decisive political and military victory” on June 24, claiming it had forced Israel to accept a ceasefire after twelve days of intense exchanges of fire.

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The Council credited the “steadfastness of the Iranian people, national cohesion, and the quick response of our Armed Forces” for compelling Tel Aviv to halt its aggression.

In an official statement, the Council lauded the Iranian resistance for “breaking the myth of the Iron Dome’s inviolability” by striking deeply into Israeli airspace with ballistic missiles capable of overwhelming multiple defensive layers. It asserted that Tehran’s strikes “recoiled Israel’s strategic objectives and forced it to seek a truce”.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that six successive waves of missile salvos were launched against Israeli territory from the early hours of June 24, with operations “continuing until the very last minute.”

He emphasized that Iran used “the same number of munitions” Israel had deployed in its earlier airstrikes on Iranian soil, underlining Tehran’s doctrine of proportionate retaliation.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media that a bilateral ceasefire was now in effect and urged both parties to honor it.

He claimed the truce would begin within hours and last initially for twelve hours, extendable to a full twenty-four hours, calling the end of hostilities “a triumph for peace” that “never would have come naturally” without decisive leadership.

Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, acknowledged limited follow-up strikes against Iranian radar installations in Tehran but conceded that Israeli forces had failed to achieve their stated objectives in the weekend’s pre-emptive campaign against Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites.

Tehran responded by placing its military on high alert and vowing to retaliate against any fresh incursions. The Revolutionary Guard highlighted “resistance vigilance” as the linchpin of its operations and warned that it remained “ready to act under any circumstances.”

Diplomatically, Iran denied reports of friction with neighboring Qatari authorities and reiterated its commitment to regional stability. Tehran insisted its defensive measures were “legitimate and necessary” and called for an end to unilateral military action across the Gulf.

The confrontation began on June 13 when Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian territory, alleging without evidence that Tehran was racing to build a nuclear weapon. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly found no proof of a military nuclear program, rendering Israel’s pretext highly disputed.

In the course of its counter-offensive, Iran fired a total of twenty-two waves of missiles and drones against strategic targets such as the port of Haifa and high-rise buildings in Tel Aviv, showcasing the precision and range of its ballistic arsenal while exposing gaps in Israel’s coastal defenses.

Regional powers and global actors have called for restraint. Russia and China, critical of both U.S. and Israeli strikes, are pushing for a UN Security Council resolution to cement the ceasefire. Gulf Cooperation Council states are reportedly planning a foreign ministers’ meeting in Doha to discuss de-escalation measures.

Military analysts warn that both sides possess munitions capable of striking centers of gravity deep inside adversary territory, raising fears that any violation of the truce could trigger an even broader conflict drawing in extra-regional powers.

As the ceasefire takes hold, Iran frames the pause not as a defeat but as proof that unwavering defense can reshape strategic calculations. Whether this “victory” leads to durable calm or merely a pause in hostilities remains to be seen.

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