Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has ordered all military units to cease fire following Tehran's agreement to a two-week ceasefire with the United States, even as he cautioned that the conflict is far from over.
In a statement broadcast on state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) and reported by NDTV, Khamenei said, "This is not the end of the war but all military branches should follow the Supreme Leader's order and cease their fire."
The directive signals a temporary pause in hostilities while maintaining a firm stance on Iran's readiness to respond if tensions escalate again.
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The message was reinforced by Iran's Supreme National Security Council, which underlined that the ceasefire should not be seen as a conclusion to the ongoing conflict. "It is emphasised that this does not signify the termination of the war," the statement said.
Warning of consequences in case of any provocation, the council added, "Our hands remain upon the trigger, and should the slightest error be committed by the enemy, it shall be met with full force."
Trump's announcement
Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, stepping back from earlier threats of strikes on key infrastructure. The announcement came hours after he warned that "a whole civilisation will die tonight", signalling a sharp shift in tone.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump said the United States had agreed to pause hostilities following a proposal by Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir. A key condition of the plan is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage that carries nearly 20 percent of global oil shipments.
Trump called it a "double-sided ceasefire" and said that US has "already met and exceeded all military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning long-term peace with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East.
"Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated," Trump said.
"It is an honor to have this longterm problem close to resolution," he added.
Iran's 'hands remain on the trigger' warning
Minutes after US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, Tehran accepted the deal. In a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Iran's Foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote, "If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations."
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In his statement, Araghchi expressed gratitude and appreciation for his "dear brothers", Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir. He thanked them for their "tireless efforts to end the war in the region."
However, Iran made it clear that a ceasefire does not mean the end of the war. Its hands remain on the trigger in case the enemy, either the US or Israel, acts in any way.
In a statement released after announcing the ceasefire, Iran's Supreme National Security Council said, "It is emphasised that this does not signify the termination of the war. Our hands remain on the trigger, and if the enemy makes even the slightest mistake, it will be met with full force."
