Iran Questions Long-Term Viability of Israeli Ceasefire and Prepares for Possible Escalation
In Tehran, skepticism persists regarding the durability of the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, brokered by the United States. Officials in Iran express doubts about whether this truce will hold over the long run and assert their readiness to respond decisively to any further attacks or provocations. This stance was voiced by Iran’s Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Abdolrahim Mousavi, during a Sunday telephone conversation with Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister, Khalid bin Salman. Mousavi pointed out that in June, several high-ranking Iranian military and nuclear officials, including the predecessor of Mousavi himself, lost their lives as a result of Israeli strikes. Both sides have exchanged accusations of violations of the ceasefire, yet, according to Bloomberg, the truce remains largely observed at this stage. Previously, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, described the damage to Iranian nuclear facilities as serious, while U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Iran’s nuclear program had been rolled back by “decades.” The head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, indicated that Iran is likely to resume uranium enrichment activities within months, despite the damage inflicted on several key sites.