Iran Casts Doubt on Israel Ceasefire, Warns of Retaliation if Conflict Resumes

Iran has raised serious concerns over the longevity of the recently brokered ceasefire between itself and Israel, cautioning that it remains fully prepared to retaliate if hostilities reignite.

The ceasefire, mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump, was declared six days ago following a fierce 12-day conflict between the two adversaries.

In a strongly worded statement broadcast on Iranian state television, the Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, warned,

“We did not initiate this war, but we responded to the aggressors with full force. We harbour deep suspicions about the enemy’s commitment to the ceasefire. If attacked again, we will not hesitate to respond with decisive power.”

Escalation and Ceasefire

The latest conflict between Iran and Israel marked one of the most intense military escalations in West Asia in recent years.

It reached its peak on June 13, when Israel launched a coordinated bombing campaign targeting high-value military sites in Iran.

The strikes reportedly killed several senior commanders and nuclear scientists associated with Iran’s controversial nuclear programme.

Israel justified the attacks as a preemptive measure to prevent Iran from allegedly developing a nuclear weapon, claims Tehran has consistently rejected, asserting that its nuclear activities are purely for peaceful, civilian energy needs.

 

The situation further intensified when the United States, a close ally of Israel, joined the conflict, launching airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.

In retaliation, Iran struck a U.S. military base in Qatar, further escalating tensions and effectively halting ongoing nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

U.S. President Donald Trump has since issued a stern warning, stating that further U.S. strikes could be ordered if Iran enriches uranium to weapons-grade levels.

Iran Accuses U.S. and Israel of Aggression

In a formal letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called on the international community to hold both the United States and Israel accountable for initiating the war.

“We officially request that the UN Security Council recognise the Israeli regime and the United States as the aggressors in this conflict, and demand they be held responsible for the resulting loss of life and destruction. This includes compensation and reparations,” Araghchi wrote.

According to data released by Iran’s Health Ministry, the 12-day conflict claimed the lives of at least 627 Iranian civilians, with more than 4,900 injured. In retaliatory attacks, Iran fired missiles into Israeli territory, resulting in 28 Israeli fatalities, according to Israeli officials.

The Nuclear Standoff

The heart of the conflict continues to be Iran’s nuclear programme. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran had enriched uranium to 60% purity as early as 2021, far above the 3.67% cap set under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—an agreement the United States abandoned in 2018.

For a nuclear weapon to be built, uranium must be enriched to 90% purity, a threshold Iran has not officially crossed. Tehran maintains that its nuclear ambitions are peaceful and legal under international law.

Meanwhile, Israel has maintained deliberate ambiguity regarding its nuclear arsenal. While the Israeli government neither confirms nor denies possessing nuclear weapons, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) estimates that Israel has approximately 90 nuclear warheads.

A Fragile Peace

Despite the current ceasefire, the situation remains highly volatile. Iran’s leadership has made it clear that it does not trust the intentions of its adversaries and is prepared for any future confrontation. With deep geopolitical divides, unresolved nuclear issues, and the involvement of global powers, the path to lasting peace in the region remains uncertain.