Netanyahu Declares Win as Iran, Israel Agree to Ceasefire

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

Photo: AFP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called it a “historic victory” after Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire, ending 12 days of heavy attacks between the two countries. However, a secret US intelligence report says that American airstrikes only delayed Iran’s nuclear program by a few months — not years.

The fighting stopped on Tuesday after a deal was reached between both sides. This came just days after former US President Donald Trump entered the conflict. He ordered powerful bunker-buster bombs to be used against Iran, saying the attacks destroyed important nuclear sites.

Even though the US strikes looked serious, the early US report says that they only blocked entrances to some underground buildings and didn’t destroy Iran’s main nuclear tools like centrifuges or enriched uranium supplies. People close to the Defense Intelligence Agency say the strikes were not as damaging as claimed.

Despite this, Netanyahu gave a strong message in a speech after the ceasefire. “Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,” he said. “We have stopped Iran’s nuclear plan, and if they try again, we will stop them again with the same force.”

Israel’s military also claimed their attacks had delayed Iran’s nuclear program “by years,” though this is now in question after the US report came out. Iran has always said it does not want nuclear weapons, only peaceful nuclear energy.

During the conflict, Trump sharply criticized both countries when they broke the early terms of the truce. But Iran later said it would follow the ceasefire if Israel did the same. Israel also confirmed it had held back from more attacks.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran is ready to return to talks about its nuclear program, but also said the country will keep its right to use atomic energy for peaceful reasons.

The White House did not deny the leaked intelligence report, but Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said it was “flat-out wrong” and an attempt to harm Trump’s reputation. She added that the American pilots did a “perfectly executed mission.”

This short war between Iran and Israel was one of the worst ever between them. It caused major destruction and killed many people. Israel bombed military and nuclear targets in Iran, killing scientists and military leaders. Some homes were also hit. In response, Iran launched missile attacks on Israel.

The US joined in with strikes on Iran’s underground nuclear facilities — something Israel could not do alone. Iran then struck back by hitting the largest US military base in the Middle East. Trump brushed off the attack, saying it was “weak” and that Iran had warned the US beforehand.

After the ceasefire, people in both countries had mixed feelings. In Israel, some like Tammy Shel from Tel Aviv said, “Everyone is tired. We just want to have some peace — for us, for the Iranians, for the Palestinians, for everyone.”

In Iran, people were unsure. Amir, a 28-year-old who fled to the Caspian Sea region, said, “I really don’t know if the ceasefire will last. I don’t think things will return to normal.”

Iran’s Health Ministry says at least 610 civilians were killed, and more than 4,700 were injured by Israeli attacks.

Around the world, leaders reacted carefully. Saudi Arabia and the European Union supported Trump’s ceasefire announcement. Russia said it hoped the peace would last. But French President Emmanuel Macron warned that Iran might secretly try to restart its uranium enrichment after the bombings.

After the truce, Israel’s army chief Eyal Zamir said they will now turn their attention back to Gaza. Many in Israel — including opposition leaders, the Palestinian Authority, and families of hostages — called for a similar ceasefire in Gaza as well.