Tension remained high in the Middle East on Tuesday after Iranian missiles killed three people in southern Israel, just hours after United States President Donald Trump announced a supposed ceasefire deal between Iran and Israel.
Trump had said both countries agreed to a 24-hour phased truce, with Iran expected to stop all military actions first, followed by Israel. But events on the ground tell a different story.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, denied any formal ceasefire agreement. “As of now, there is no agreement on ceasefire or cessation of military operations,” he posted online. However, he hinted that Iran might stop its attacks if Israel ended what he called “illegal aggression” by 4 am Tehran time.
Shortly after that statement, new missile strikes hit Israel. Israel’s emergency service, Magen David Adom, confirmed that three people were killed in the south of the country. “Following the missile impact site in southern Israel: So far, MDA teams have pronounced the deaths of three people,” it wrote on X.
Sirens also went off in northern Israel as Iranian state media reported more missiles were on the way.
The conflict began on June 13, when Israel launched surprise attacks on Iranian nuclear and military facilities. Since then, both sides have exchanged deadly missile strikes.
Iran also fired missiles at a US airbase in Qatar on Monday. The base, Al Udeid, is America’s largest military facility in the region. Iran’s National Security Council said it launched the strike in response to US attacks on its nuclear sites, claiming the response was “measured” and not aimed at starting a larger war.
Though there were no American casualties, the attack increased fears of a wider conflict. Iran’s missiles reportedly matched the number of bombs dropped by the US, suggesting a tit-for-tat response.
Ali Vaez, a senior advisor at the International Crisis Group, explained the move. “This was calibrated and telegraphed in a way that would not result in any American casualties, so that there is an off-ramp for both sides,” he told AFP.
In Tehran, large crowds took to the streets to celebrate the attack on the US base. Some were seen waving Iranian flags and chanting “Death to America.”
Meanwhile, explosions continued to shake parts of Tehran, with the latest blasts described as among the loudest since the conflict began.
So far, Israeli strikes have reportedly killed over 400 people in Iran, according to Iran’s health ministry. In contrast, about 24 people have died in Iran’s attacks on Israel.
Qatar, which has tried to stay neutral, was angered by the Iranian missiles hitting its territory. Though Iran claimed the US base was the target, the Qatari government called the strike “blatant aggression” and promised a proportional response. It also shut its airspace temporarily as a safety measure.
World leaders have expressed concern over the rising violence. French President Emmanuel Macron said the chaos must stop, and China warned of the possible global economic impact.
As of Tuesday, it remained unclear if both sides would honour the ceasefire announced by Trump. Iran and Israel have not officially confirmed it. For now, the fighting continues, leaving the region and the world watching closely.
