WANA (Jun 25) – The twelve-day war between Iran and Israel now stands at a fragile pause—yet no one dares call it over. Early yesterday morning, after a night of heavy fighting, a tentative ceasefire came into effect at 7:30 AM Tehran time. But both the region and the world remain on high alert.

 

During the conflict, Iran suffered heavy losses with 606 fatalities. Meanwhile, according to Hebrew-language media, 28 people were killed in Israeli-controlled territories. While the full extent of Israel’s damages remains obscured behind official figures, reports point to 15,000 displaced individuals and widespread destruction in cities like Bnei Brak, Ramat Gan, and even Tel Aviv. Globes newspaper, in a rare admission, acknowledged that most Iranian missiles had struck military installations. The image evokes a Gaza-like scenario—but this time not from southern Lebanon, but from deep within Iran, reconstructed at the edge of Israeli borders.

Beersheba, Israel, after Iranian missile strikes, 24 June 2025 / WANA News Agency

Beersheba, Israel, after Iranian missile strikes, 24 June 2025 / WANA News Agency

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi described the decision to accept the ceasefire as a move to “preserve moral superiority.” But behind the scenes, a different story unfolds. In an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Araghchi revealed that after witnessing Iran’s response using its new “Kheibar-Shekan” missiles, the U.S. requested a ceasefire through intermediaries.

 

In a surprising move, Donald Trump criticized Israel for its bombing of Tehran in the final hours before the ceasefire, calling it a costly mistake. His remarks, coupled with an initial Pentagon intelligence assessment describing the attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities as “unsuccessful,” underscore both the technical and moral setbacks on the opposing front.

 

Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has issued a sharper demand for the immediate resumption of inspections in Iran. But Iranian officials are now reportedly considering suspending cooperation with the agency altogether. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded with a sarcastic jab: “The IAEA wants to know where the enriched uranium is, because they want to bomb it again—and they’re angry.”

A pictures of Major General Mohammad Bagheri, is displayed in a street, amid the Iran-Israel conflict, in Tehran, Iran, June 23, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, in exaggerated tones, claimed the assassination of senior commanders and the destruction of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. However, U.S. assessments suggest otherwise: no centrifuges were destroyed, and uranium reserves remain intact. CNN has also reported that Iran may possess additional undisclosed nuclear facilities that were not targeted in the strikes.

 

Inside Iran, analysts have emphasized that the most decisive factor in this recent resistance was the people themselves. Contrary to many predictions, the Iranian public instinctively and intelligently recognized the real threat—and united. Observers note that society’s behavior during this crisis demonstrated that, in times of danger, political legitimacy in Iran still has deep popular roots.

People attend a gathering to support Iran’s Armed Forces following the ceasefire between Iran and Israel, in Tehran, Iran, June 24, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

At the same time, despite Iran’s effective military performance in offensive and defensive operations, officials have highlighted the urgent need to rethink cyber security, counterintelligence, and civil defense. While internet restrictions served as a tool for public control during the conflict, they are now seen as a potential national security vulnerability.

 

On the economic front, hopes for a lasting ceasefire caused oil prices to spike again: Brent crude reached $67.99 per barrel, and West Texas Intermediate rose to $65.24. Yet there are no clear guarantees that stability will hold.

 

Still, Iran’s official narrative remains firm:

 

“They started the war, but Iran wrote the ending.

Iran’s response targeted both the U.S. and Israel.

The nuclear industry remains intact.

The destruction in Tel Aviv was more real than any street slogan.

The exiled Iranian opposition has been set back a decade.”

 

This war isn’t over—it’s only paused.

A ceasefire has replaced peace.

And once again, the Middle East stands in the shadow of unfinished decisions.

A security guard stands on a street, early hours of ceasefire, in Tehran, Iran, June 24, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)