Iran has defended its missile strike on the United States’ Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, describing it as a lawful act of self-defence under international law. Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, said on Tuesday that the attack was a direct response to the “unprovoked aggression” by the United States, which bombed three of Iran’s nuclear facilities on Sunday. Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Baghaei invoked Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which permits member states to exercise the right to self-defence in the event of an armed attack. He emphasized that Iran remains committed to peaceful relations with its regional neighbours, but accused the US of deliberately trying to sow discord in the Middle East. “The Islamic Republic of Iran values regional cooperation and stability, but will not hesitate to defend its sovereignty against any form of aggression,” Baghaei wrote. The missile strike on Al Udeid—the largest US military base in the Middle East—marked a dramatic escalation in tensions following the recent US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, and comes amid heightened fears of a wider regional conflict.

Tensions flared once again on Tuesday as Israeli media reported that a missile was launched from Iran toward Israeli territory, just hours after the recently agreed ceasefire between both nations came into effect. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that missile alerts were triggered and air defense systems were activated to intercept the projectile. Initial reports did not confirm if the missile caused any damage or casualties. Reacting swiftly, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned of retaliation, declaring, “Tehran will tremble.” The incident comes amid hopes of de-escalation following the announcement of a dual-phase ceasefire deal brokered between Iran and Israel, widely dubbed the “12-Day War” truce. Under the agreement, Iran was to begin a 12-hour ceasefire, followed by Israel, culminating in a full cessation of hostilities. It remains unclear how this breach will affect the fragile truce, but Israeli officials have vowed a response. International observers now fear the return of open conflict if diplomatic efforts to salvage the ceasefire fail.

Tehran, Iran – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has confirmed launching a retaliatory missile strike on the United States’ Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, in response to the recent American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The operation, codenamed “Annunciation of Victory”, was reported by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency on Monday. Eyewitnesses in Doha reported loud explosions and visible flares in the sky, indicating the activation of air defence systems. Qatar’s Defence Ministry announced that its forces successfully intercepted the incoming projectiles, preventing any casualties or major damage. The ministry credited the interception to “the vigilance of the armed forces and precautionary measures taken.” While Iran has vowed a broad response to the US-Israeli strikes that targeted its Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites, the scale and intent of Monday’s attack remain unclear. “This may be just the beginning of Iran’s retaliation,” said Al Jazeera’s Tehran correspondent Ali Hashem, noting uncertainty around whether this would escalate into a broader confrontation or remain a symbolic act. Analysts speculate the attack may have been choreographed to avoid escalation, potentially mirroring Iran’s restrained retaliation in 2020 after the US assassination of General Qassem Soleimani. However, officials have not confirmed such coordination, and the situation remains volatile, with fears growing that the Gulf could become another active theatre in the widening regional conflict.

Washington, D.C. — U.S. President Donald J. Trump has announced a formal ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, marking what he called the official end to the 12-day war that has rocked the Middle East. In a dramatic statement posted Monday evening, Trump declared that both nations had agreed to halt all hostilities in a staggered 24-hour ceasefire window, beginning in approximately six hours. According to the announcement, Iran will initiate a 12-hour ceasefire first, allowing time for both sides to conclude ongoing military operations. Following that, Israel will implement its own 12-hour ceasefire, after which the war will be officially considered over. Trump hailed the deal as a significant achievement and praised the “Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence” of both countries for averting a prolonged regional conflict. “This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will,” Trump said in the message, which bore his signature and title: President of the United States of America. While it was not immediately clear whether the announcement was officially endorsed by either government, Trump presented the ceasefire as a done deal and called on the world to recognize the end of the hostilities. The surprise ceasefire comes after nearly two weeks of heavy bombardment, cyberattacks, and retaliatory strikes between the two regional adversaries. Trump ended his message with a sweeping appeal for unity and peace, invoking divine blessings on Israel, Iran, the Middle East, and the world. Observers are now waiting to see if the ceasefire terms hold and whether official statements from Tehran and Tel Aviv confirm the conclusion of the conflict.