Trump credits US pilots who bombed Iran for ceasefire with Israel

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed the start of ceasefire between Iran and Israel at 4am Tehran time on Tuesday---first announced by US president Donald Trump on social media.

While he avoided the term ceasefire, Araghchi said Tehran would halt military operations.

“Together with all Iranians, I thank our brave Armed Forces, who remain ready to defend our dear country until their last drop of blood and who responded to every enemy attack until the very last minute,” he posted on X.

Israel conducted a series of heavy attacks on Iran’s capital late Monday into early hours of Tuesday local time.

The Iraqi military base Taji, north of Baghdad, was hit by a drone attack early hours of Tuesday local time, Reuters reports.

No casualties were reported, and the fire is under control, the report said.

The source of the attack is unknown. There was no immediate statement from the Iraqi government.

US president Donald Trump told NBC News that a ceasefire he broke between Iran and Israel marks “a wonderful day for the world."

Asked how long the ceasefire would last, Trump replied, “I think the ceasefire is unlimited. It’s going to go forever.”

“It’s a great day for America. It’s a great day for the Middle East. I’m very happy to have been able to get the job done," he said. "A lot of people were dying and it was only going to get worse. It would have brought the whole Middle East down."

He added that he does not believe Israel and Iran “will ever be shooting at each other again.”

The status of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel remains uncertain with conflicting reports emerging within minutes of an announcement by US president Donald Trump.

"Iran has not received any ceasefire offer,” CNN quoted a senior Iranian official as saying, while Reuters said the exact opposite: that "Tehran had agreed to the US proposed ceasefire."

On the Israeli side, online outlet Ynet said Israel's security cabinet remains in session and has not officially confirmed any truce.

As of now, there has been no formal confirmation from either governments.

The Israeli military issued a new evacuation warning to the residents of an area in Tehran's District 6 early Tuesday local time, just over an hour after a similar warning for District 7.

"Dear citizens, for your safety and well-being, we kindly ask you to immediately evacuate the designated area on the map and avoid approaching it in the coming hours," the warning, published in Persian on X read.

"Your presence in this area puts your life at risk."