Tehran – Tehran endured a harrowing night of explosions and air defense fire before dawn Wednesday, as hopes of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel remained unconfirmed. U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a truce had been agreed to an amicable ceasefire between Iran and Israel, but Iran’s government has not acknowledged any formal deal. Meanwhile, residents in Iran’s capital described a night filled with fear.
Loud blasts echoed across Tehran as Israeli missiles targeted areas across the city. According to multiple eyewitnesses, the attacks began shortly after midnight and intensified toward 4 a.m. The Israeli military had earlier issued direct evacuation warnings to three districts of the city.
A Tehran resident told local reporters, “Why should we live in fear every night? I haven’t slept. I’m afraid of every sound.” Another resident described the chaos as “traumatizing.”
By 4 a.m. local time, the explosions appeared to have stopped. Iran’s foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, had earlier posted on X, formerly Twitter, setting that hour as a deadline for Israel to halt its military campaign. “The military operations of our Armed Forces to punish Israel for its aggression continued until the very last minute, at 4am,” he wrote. “If Israel ends its aggression, we have no intention to continue our response.”
As of 5 a.m. Tehran time, no new strikes had been reported, though tensions remained high. Israel has not issued a formal response.
The night’s escalation followed Iran’s missile strikes on a U.S. military base in Qatar late Tuesday. No casualties were reported, and Qatar confirmed its air defense systems intercepted all missiles. Iran framed the attack as retaliation for an Israeli strike on its nuclear sites days earlier.
Trump announced the supposed ceasefire hours later on social media. “It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE,” he wrote, saying the truce would begin six hours after his statement. The timeline passed without confirmation from either side.
Iranian state media referred to President Trump’s announcement only as a “claim.” A source quoted by the outlet warned of an imminent “operational” response intended to disprove Trump’s statement.
Despite this, U.S. officials told media that both sides had signaled agreement through diplomatic backchannels. A senior White House official claimed Iran and Israel were in contact through Qatari mediators, who had spoken directly with Iranian leaders.
Iran has remained cautious in its language. “There is no agreement yet,” Araghchi said. “But provided the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression by 4 a.m. Tehran time, we will not continue our response.”
Meanwhile, inside Iran, air defenses lit up the sky. Footage circulating online showed missile trails and intercepts above the capital. State TV reported the heaviest air defense activity since June 13.
Across Iran, residents in Karaj and Rasht also reported hearing explosions. Communication disruptions, especially on mobile networks and the internet, made it difficult for civilians to track evacuation warnings or get timely updates.
As Iran’s military paused its attacks, Vice President JD Vance stated that recent U.S. airstrikes had “crippled” Iran’s ability to build nuclear weapons. “A message has been sent. U.S. jets can reach Iran anytime,” he told Fox News.
Back in Washington, the White House formally notified Congress of its authorization for strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. President Trump justified the attack as necessary to protect American lives and support Israel. Critics in Congress, including Democrats and some Republicans, questioned the legality of the unilateral move without congressional approval.
The economic fallout appeared immediate. Brent crude oil prices dropped 4% on Wednesday, falling below pre-strike levels from June 12. Stock markets in Asia posted gains, with analysts citing the perceived de-escalation as the reason.
But with no official statement from Israel and mixed messages from Tehran, the ceasefire remains fragile. The region stands at a critical juncture, with calm dependent on whether both sides honor the silence that followed a night of thunder.
