Ceasefire Holds as Iran Nuclear Talks Resume: News Summary \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel is now in effect, despite Tehran and Jerusalem trading accusations of violations. U.S. intelligence suggests Iran’s nuclear program was only delayed—not destroyed—with hopes for diplomacy gaining traction. World powers, including France and the EU, urge resumed inspections and sanctions snapback by summer.
Quick Looks
- Trump declares ceasefire active: Despite his frustration, the President says the Iran‑Israel truce “was in effect” on Tuesday.
- Both sides allege breaches: Israel accused Iran of launching missiles; Iran denied the accusation.
- Nuclear setbacks overstated: U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) found Tehran’s nuclear program was setback by months—not “completely obliterated,” contrary to Trump and Netanyahu’s claims.
Deep Look
In a dramatic and potentially pivotal moment for Middle East diplomacy, President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire between Iran and Israel “in effect” on Tuesday, even as reports emerged of violations on both sides. The fragile truce, which followed a weekend of U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, now teeters between tentative calm and renewed escalation. At the heart of this geopolitical balancing act are diverging accounts, contested intelligence assessments, and a global push to re-open stalled nuclear negotiations.
Trump’s Ceasefire Claim: “In Effect” but Under Fire
President Trump’s announcement came just hours after Israeli officials accused Iran of violating the ceasefire by launching missiles into their airspace. Iranian state media quickly denied the allegations. Despite the mutual blame, Trump doubled down, insisting the truce—mediated by his administration after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure—was holding. Still, the president expressed “deep frustration” with both sides for endangering an agreement he views as a cornerstone of his second-term foreign policy.
Adding to the complexity, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that his country’s military campaign had “brought Iran’s nuclear program to ruin.” However, that bold claim was undercut by a leaked U.S. intelligence assessment.
U.S. Intelligence Contradicts Public Claims
According to two sources familiar with a Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report shared with the Associated Press, the airstrikes caused only limited, short-term disruption to Iran’s nuclear operations—setting the program back by mere months, not destroying it outright. This directly contradicts Trump’s assertion that Iran’s program was “completely and fully obliterated.” Israeli claims of targeting Natanz, Isfahan, and Arak reactor facilities may have done measurable damage, but not to the extent publicly touted.
The White House, in a sharply worded response, dismissed the DIA’s findings as “flat-out wrong.” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized the leak as an effort to discredit the administration’s military achievements and undermine morale. “This is a deliberate hit on the mission and the brave fighter pilots who executed it perfectly,” she said.
Intelligence agencies, including the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, declined to comment, deepening speculation over internal disagreements within the U.S. national security establishment.
Iran Signals Openness to Diplomacy
In an address to the United Nations Security Council, Iran’s U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani declared that “we are now closer to diplomacy than ever before.” He framed the recent attacks as proof that diplomacy—not warfare—is the only viable path to resolving disputes around Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Iranian officials insist their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Still, their recent enrichment of uranium to 60%—a level significantly beyond civilian needs and just short of weapons-grade—continues to fuel suspicion.
Meanwhile, Iran has emerged from the conflict “steadfast and proud,” Iravani claimed, using the moment to signal Tehran’s willingness to engage—provided talks are held with respect and without threats.
U.S. and Iran Resume Quiet Talks
President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed that Washington and Tehran have begun preliminary discussions about restarting nuclear negotiations. The talks are taking place both directly and through third-party intermediaries. “The conversations are promising,” Witkoff said in a Fox News interview. “Now is the time to sit down and get to a comprehensive peace agreement.”
These developments come amid rising concern that existing U.S. military and humanitarian aid commitments to the region—many inherited from the Biden administration—are nearing depletion. It remains uncertain whether Trump intends to replenish these funds or shift toward a more diplomacy-first doctrine.
Global Powers Press Iran to Return to Compliance
During a tense U.N. Security Council meeting on the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), several world powers pressed Tehran to resume cooperation. France’s ambassador, Jerome Bonnafont, called on Iran to grant immediate access to IAEA inspectors and fully disclose its uranium stockpile and enrichment activities. He warned that without such transparency, France and its European partners could trigger a “snapback” of U.N. sanctions by late summer.
The JCPOA—signed by Iran, the U.S., France, Germany, the U.K., China, and Russia—imposed strict limits on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for economic relief. Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal in 2018, arguing it was flawed and unenforceable.
The European Union’s ambassador, Stavros Lambrinidis, echoed Bonnafont, asserting that only a negotiated agreement could ensure Iran doesn’t develop nuclear weapons. He stressed that the IAEA remains the sole international body qualified to monitor and verify compliance.
IAEA Identifies Contamination at Nuclear Sites
In a rare and concerning update, the IAEA said it had detected “possible localized contamination” at Fordo and Natanz following the U.S. airstrikes. Access roads and key underground facility entrances were struck, and chemical hazards are being evaluated. The agency’s inspectors, who remained in Iran during the conflict, await authorization to resume on-site verification duties.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi has written to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, urging swift cooperation. “Resuming IAEA inspections is key to any credible diplomatic path forward,” Grossi said in a statement.
Broader Regional and Diplomatic Implications
As global leaders respond, the ceasefire has sparked a wider realignment. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held urgent phone calls with foreign ministers from Turkmenistan, Italy, and other nations. Discussions focused on easing regional tensions and ensuring the safe passage of American citizens from Iran’s borders. Turkmenistan reportedly opened its land border to nearly 200 Americans stranded during the conflict’s peak.
Italy, host of past nuclear negotiations, and the Vatican have offered to facilitate future talks. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry both praised the ceasefire as a step toward durable peace. Guterres urged leaders to “find the courage to end the carnage.”
Civilian Toll and Global Fallout
The conflict has had far-reaching consequences beyond diplomacy. The UN condemned Israel’s strike on Tehran’s Evin Prison—a facility known for housing political prisoners—as a violation of international humanitarian law. Iran claims it evacuated all inmates prior to the attack.
In the Persian Gulf, fears over oil disruption eased slightly, sending oil prices tumbling. A barrel of U.S. crude dropped 4.9% to $65.12, while Brent crude fell 4.8% to $67.13, returning to levels seen before the conflict began.
Yet air travel remains chaotic. Emirates, Qatar Airways, British Airways, KLM, and others canceled flights across the region. U.S. strikes and Iran’s retaliatory missile launches disrupted airspace in Qatar, Iraq, and the UAE, prompting international carriers to reroute or suspend operations.
Strategic Calculations: Trump, Netanyahu, and Beyond
After ordering strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, President Trump reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu not to expect further U.S. military involvement. A senior White House official confirmed that Trump communicated a shift toward diplomacy, citing the removal of the “imminent threat” from Iran as justification.
Netanyahu acknowledged the change but maintained that Israel’s campaign had achieved its core objective: delaying Iran’s nuclear capacity. “We removed the imminent threat,” Israeli U.N. ambassador Danny Danon said, while predicting that diplomacy “will happen soon.”
Danon also used the occasion to praise President Trump, stating, “I think he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize.”
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