A delicate ceasefire between Israel and Iran appears to be holding, after US President Donald Trump lashed out at both sides in an expletive-laden outburst.
Trump said “Israel and Iran wanted to stop the war, equally!” in a post on his Truth Social platform
The president held a phone call with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which he was reportedly “exceptionally firm and direct” about maintaining the ceasefire
Trump earlier expressed anger at both sides, accusing Iran and Israel of violating the ceasefire brokered by the US and Qatar.
The announcement of a ceasefire following 12 days of war with Israel has divided Iranians, who are responding with a mixture of relief, scepticism, fear and frustration.
“I can’t believe the US and Israel made peace with them, especially after all they said about regime change, giving us false hope,” one Tehran resident tells me over a secure messaging app.
Donald Trump says he does not want to see regime change in Iran, after previously floating the idea.
The head of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says he welcomes announcements today about the situation in Iran.
“Resuming co-operation with the IAEA is key to a successful diplomatic agreement to finally resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear activities,” Rafael Grossi says.
He adds that he has written to the Iranian foreign minister to stress the importance of working together and proposing they meet soon.
IAEA inspectors have remained in Iran throughout the conflict and are ready to start working as soon as possible, the organisation says in a statement.
Credit: bbc.com
