Asger Risom
President Donald Trump claims a “complete and total” ceasefire between Israel and Iran. But conflicting signals and unanswered questions suggest the conflict is far from resolved.
The surprise ceasefire announcement by President Donald Trump may have temporarily cooled tensions in the Middle East, but it has done little to clarify the path forward for Iran, Israel, or the broader region.
Ceasefire or Just a Pause?
Trump took to social media Monday declaring a “complete and total CEASEFIRE” between Israel and Iran, following a week of deadly strikes across both nations.
However, Reuters reports that Israel had not confirmed any such agreement at the time, and rockets continued to fly — including a deadly strike in Beersheba just hours later.
Iran, too, sent mixed messages.
While one official acknowledged Tehran had accepted a ceasefire, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi insisted Iran would not halt attacks unless Israel stopped first.
Trump, nonetheless, reiterated that the ceasefire was now in effect.
A Calculated Response from Tehran
Iran’s retaliatory missile attack on a U.S. base in Qatar, causing no casualties, was seen by U.S. officials as deliberately restrained — a signal that Tehran may be seeking to avoid further escalation.
Trump administration sources told Reuters that Iran’s weakened position following sustained Israeli strikes had likely made them more amenable to talks.
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other officials were reportedly engaged in diplomacy behind the scenes, with Qatar helping to mediate indirect talks.
Still No Clarity on Nuclear Future
Despite the ceasefire, key issues remain unresolved. Iran’s uranium stockpile and the future of its nuclear and missile programs were not addressed in Trump’s announcement.
Former diplomat Dennis Ross cautioned that these matters will require negotiations, and “these won’t be easy to resolve.”
Trump’s move also raised eyebrows given his prior stance against military entanglements abroad.
Critics question whether his high-stakes gamble — launching strikes on Iranian nuclear sites — will lead to a genuine diplomatic breakthrough or merely delay further conflict.
For now, the guns may have quieted. But the silence is uneasy, and the questions left unanswered loom larger than ever.