“THE CEASEFIRE IS IN EFFECT. PLEASE DON'T BREAK IT!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform, quoted by AFP.

Earlier, Trump said the truce would be implemented gradually over 24 hours, starting at 7:00 a.m. (Bulgarian time) today, with Iran first halting all operations and Israel doing the same 12 hours later.

Israeli rescuers said four people were killed in an Iranian strike after state media in the Islamic republic reported that waves of missiles were heading toward Israel.

Just hours before Trump's latest statement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that “at this moment, there is no agreement on a ceasefire or military operations.”

“However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4:00 a.m. Tehran time, we have no intention of continuing our response after that,” he said on social media.

Later, Iranian state television announced a ceasefire with Israel.

However, the Israeli army reported that sirens had been sounded in northern Israel, where Iranian state television IRIB had reported shortly before that a wave of missiles was approaching.

At least four people were killed in a multi-wave Iranian missile attack shortly before Trump's ceasefire took effect, emergency services and the military said.

The Magen David Adom rescue service said three people were pronounced dead at the site of the strike in the southern city of Beersheba, with a fourth added to the updated toll.

Explosions continued to rock Tehran overnight, with blasts in the northern and central parts of the Iranian capital described by AFP journalists as some of the strongest since the start of the conflict.

Any cessation of hostilities would be a huge relief for world leaders, who are panicking over the escalation of violence that could lead to a wider conflagration.

The two sides have been trading missile strikes since Israel carried out surprise “preemptive” strikes against Iran on June 13, targeting nuclear and military sites, prompting Trump to warn of a possible “massive” regional conflict.

The US leader's announcement of the truce came hours after Iran fired missiles at the largest US military base in the Middle East, Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, in a move that Trump dismissed as “very weak.”

Calling for de-escalation, Trump said Tehran had warned in advance of the strikes.

Iran's National Security Council confirmed it had targeted the base “in response to the aggressive and arrogant actions of the US against Iran's nuclear sites and facilities.”

But it added that the number of missiles fired “was the same as the number of bombs the US used” — a signal that it had calibrated its response to be directly proportional, rather than escalatory.

“This was measured and announced in a way that would not lead to American casualties, so that there would be a way out for both sides,” said Ali Vaez, senior adviser at the International Crisis Group.

The offensive came after the US joined its ally Israel's military campaign against Iran, attacking an underground uranium enrichment center with powerful bunker-busting bombs and striking two other nuclear facilities.

With growing international concern that Israel's campaign and the US strikes could spark a wider conflict, French President Emmanuel Macron insisted that “the spiral of chaos must stop,” while China warned of potential economic consequences.

Iran said its attack on Qatar was not aimed at its Middle East neighbor, but the government in Doha accused Tehran of “blatant aggression” and said it had the right to a “proportionate” response.

Iranian state media quoted the Revolutionary Guard as saying that six missiles had struck Al Udeid, which Qatari authorities said had been evacuated in advance.

The strike was carried out with “short- and medium-range ballistic missiles,” a US defense official said.

Qatar had earlier announced the temporary closure of its airspace in light of “developments in the region,” while the US embassy and other foreign missions warned their citizens to stay indoors. | BGNES