Tehran: Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday issued a stern warning to Israel and the United States, asserting that they "cannot impose unjust aspirations by force", even as Tehran signalled a conditional willingness to honour the ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump.

Pezeshkian’s comments come a day after Trump declared a truce between Israel and Iran, following 12 days of intense conflict that saw missile exchanges, civilian deaths, and direct strikes on Tehran. While the ceasefire brought some calm to the Iranian capital, tensions remain high, with sporadic reports of continued Israeli strikes despite the truce.

Iran’s Foreign Minister noted that military operations “continued until the very last minute” before the ceasefire, suggesting that Iran had fully exercised its military capabilities before halting operations. Iranian state media also alleged that new attacks by Israel occurred after Trump’s announcement, though these claims remain unverified by international sources.

The Iranian leadership has framed the ceasefire as a strategic victory, with officials stating that the enemy was “forced to regret, accept defeat, and cease aggression unilaterally”. Still, Tehran warned it “does not trust its enemies” and has vowed to maintain military readiness in case hostilities resume.

Meanwhile, details have emerged that Trump coordinated the ceasefire personally via late-night calls with members of Congress and regional stakeholders. The White House remained mostly silent publicly, leaving updates to the president’s social media posts.

As diplomatic ambiguity lingers, Iran’s conditional respect for the truce hinges on reciprocal compliance by Israel—keeping the region on edge.
(With AFP inputs)