U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday night announced what he described as a “complete and total ceasefire” between Israel and Iran, declaring that both sides had agreed to halt hostilities after weeks of intensifying conflict. However, no official confirmation has come from Tehran, and continued military activity in the region has cast doubt on the ceasefire’s immediate effectiveness.

Speaking from the White House, Trump claimed that both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian officials had accepted his ceasefire proposal. “The war is over—completely and totally,” Trump said. He added that he had spoken to both sides and that the ceasefire was already in effect. “Do not drop those bombs. Bring your pilots home, now,” Trump said, referring to Israel’s air force.

Shortly after Trump’s announcement, Netanyahu signaled a willingness to pause military operations, stating that Israel had achieved its strategic objectives and was “scaling back in coordination with the United States.” However, Israel also warned it would resume strikes if attacked again.

Iran’s response was far more ambiguous. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would stop its attacks only if Israel halted its bombings first, stopping short of formally endorsing Trump’s ceasefire declaration. No clear statement was issued by Iran’s top leadership, fueling skepticism about Tehran’s intentions.

Despite the ceasefire announcement, the conflict showed no signs of ending on the ground. Hours after Trump’s speech, Israeli air defenses intercepted new Iranian missile launches targeting the southern city of Beersheba. In retaliation, Israeli officials vowed a “forceful response” to any further attacks, warning that the ceasefire would not restrain them if provoked.

Meanwhile, reports from Iran’s capital indicated continued airstrikes on Tehran’s outskirts, even after the declared start of the ceasefire. Rescue operations were seen ongoing in several neighborhoods, and emergency services were on high alert. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz maintained that strikes on regime targets would continue as long as Iran posed a threat to Israeli civilians.

The conflict escalated dramatically after the United States joined Israel’s military campaign on Sunday by deploying massive bunker-buster bombs against Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran responded with missile strikes on a U.S. military base in Qatar, further raising fears of a wider regional war. However, Iran has yet to directly threaten U.S. assets in the Gulf, and oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have not been disrupted.

Global markets initially reacted with concern, but oil prices quickly stabilized. Brent crude, which briefly surged past $80 per barrel, fell back to $69 as investors expressed doubt that the ceasefire would collapse into full-scale warfare. Analysts said the muted reaction reflected expectations that Tehran would stop short of cutting off vital oil supplies.

President Trump portrayed the ceasefire as a major diplomatic achievement, asserting that U.S. intervention had prevented a broader war. He reiterated that Washington’s goal was not regime change but the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program. Still, his remarks hinted at broader ambitions. “If the current Iranian regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a regime change?” Trump wrote in a social media post, using the acronym “MIGA.”

Political uncertainty within Iran is also growing. Sources inside the country say succession planning for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, now 86, has intensified. Two leading candidates have emerged: his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, and Hassan Khomeini, a reform-minded cleric and grandson of the republic’s founder. Khomeini is seen by some insiders as a potential bridge between Iran’s hardliners and moderates.

Israel’s military campaign, which began on June 13, has inflicted significant damage. Iranian authorities claim over 400 people—mostly civilians—have been killed in the strikes. Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Israel have killed at least 24 people and injured hundreds, in what marks the first time Iranian missiles have penetrated Israel’s air defenses to such an extent.

As both sides weigh their next steps, the ceasefire remains fragile. With conflicting signals from Tehran and continued missile fire, observers say the coming days will reveal whether President Trump’s intervention can hold back the slide toward a wider Middle East conflict—or merely delay it.