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From left: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (photo taken March 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C.), Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (from official website), and U.S. President Donald Trump (photo taken April 7, 2025, in Washington, D.C.). / AFP, Yonhap News

Israel and Iran entered a ceasefire on June 24 after a 12-day aerial conflict, according to U.S. and regional officials. Though both countries initially appeared to violate the ceasefire terms, they later affirmed their intent to uphold the truce, conditional on mutual compliance. U.S. President Donald Trump, who had criticized both sides earlier in the day, confirmed the ceasefire was in effect.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, U.S. President Donald Trump, Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, and French President Emmanuel Macron pose for a group photo during the NATO summit welcome dinner at Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague on June 24. / Reuters, Yonhap News

According to a post shared by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office at 9 a.m. local time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet and national security team that Israel had achieved “all objectives” in its operation against Iran, confirming the ceasefire. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also expressed gratitude to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and praised President Trump’s decisive support against Iran’s nuclear threat, stating that Israel would honor the ceasefire as long as Iran did the same.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared in a national address that the 12-day war—“imposed by the Zionist regime’s recklessness”—had ended through Iran’s own decision. He claimed the enemy suffered “unimaginable losses” and that Iran had sent a clear global message: any aggression toward Iran would come at a devastating cost.

Speaking from aboard Air Force One en route to the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump posted on Truth Social that both sides “equally wanted to stop the war,” calling the destruction of “all of Iran’s nuclear facilities and capabilities” one of his greatest achievements. Earlier that day, he had criticized both countries for violating the ceasefire but warned Israel not to drop any more bombs.

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Iranian citizens protest in Tehran on June 24, holding photos of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and national flags. / EPA, Yonhap News

Later, Trump declared that Israeli aircraft had turned back in a “wave of peace” and that “no one would be harmed,” confirming the ceasefire was in effect. He also shared that he had a “firm and direct” phone call with Netanyahu, urging Israel to maintain the truce.

In a televised address, Netanyahu claimed Israel had eliminated Iran’s top military leaders and nuclear scientists, and destroyed major facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and the Arak heavy water reactor. “I’ve long said Iran would never have nuclear weapons—and we have now dismantled their nuclear program,” he said.

Following the ceasefire, Israel lifted civil defense restrictions across the country, except near the Gaza border, and advised citizens to return to normal life.

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A satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies on June 24 shows extensive damage to Iran’s uranium enrichment facility in Isfahan, following a U.S. airstrike on June 21. / AFP, Yonhap News

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council issued a statement declaring victory, saying Israel was “forced to accept defeat in regret” and halt its aggression. Iranian media emphasized that Iran had “responded with courage” and “crushed all evil” under the supreme leader’s orders.

Despite the rhetoric, the damage to Iran was severe: 11 of the 12 top military officials under Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei were reportedly killed, with at least 600 total deaths and over 5,300 injured. Key nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan sustained heavy damage.

Israel, meanwhile, reported at least 28 deaths from Iran’s drone and ballistic missile attacks.

Analysts noted the casualty imbalance stemmed from Israel’s military dominance since the October 2023 Gaza war, which crippled Iran-aligned forces like Hamas and Hezbollah. The collapse of Syria’s Assad regime in late 2024 and prior Israeli airstrikes had already weakened Iran’s regional defenses.