Iran Doubts Israel’s Commitment to Ceasefire, Vows Forceful Response Amid Ongoing Nuclear Tensions

Following a 12-day war sparked by Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and commanders, Iran distrusts Israel's ceasefire commitment. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, despite enriching uranium beyond agreed limits.

Iran's armed forces chief of staff, Abdolrahim Mousavi.

Source : Twitter

Iran said on Sunday that it was not convinced that Israel would abide by a ceasefire that ended their 12-day war this week. On June 13, Israel launched a bombing campaign in Iran that killed top military commanders and scientists.

According to the report, Israel said that its aim was to keep the Islamic republic from developing a nuclear weapon — an ambition that Tehran was consistently denied, insisting that it has the right to develop nuclear power for civilian purposes like energy.

The fighting derailed the nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, a staunch ally of Israel.

"We did not start the war, but we have responded to the aggressor with all our power," Iran's armed forces chief of staff, Abdolrahim Mousavi, was quoted as saying by state television, referring to Israel.

"We have serious doubts over the enemy's compliance with its commitments including the ceasefire, we are ready to respond with force" if attacked again, he added, six days into the ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump.

Israel was joined by the United States in its campaign during the war, carrying out strikes on three key facilities used for Iran’s atomic programme. The US President has threatened further strikes should Iran enrich uranium to levels capable of manufacturing nuclear weapons. 

Barrons, quoting the International Atomic Energy Agency, reported that Iran had enriched uranium to 60 percent in 2021, well above the 3.67 percent limit set by a 2015 agreement from which the United States unilaterally withdrew in 2018.

Israel maintained ambiguity about its own atomic arsenal, neither official confirming nor denying it exists. However, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute has estimated it has 90 nuclear warheads.

Iran’s health ministry reported that at least 627 civilians were killed and 4,900 injured during the 12-day war with Israel. The retaliatory missile attacks by Iran on Israel killed 28 people, reports Barrons, according to the Israeli authorities. 

The report further mentions that Iran, during the war, arrested dozens of people it accused of spying for Israel, also saying it seized equipment including drones and weapons.

On Sunday, the parliament of Iran voted to ban the  unauthorised use of communications equipment, including tech billionaire Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service, according to the official news agency IRNA. Iran’s judiciary said that an Israeli strike on Tehran’s Evin prison killed at least 71 people during the war.

(With inputs from Barron's)