IRIA News

8 minute read

In a major escalation in the twelve-day-long conflict in the Middle East, Iran launched a missile strike on the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on June 23, 2025. Hours into the Iranian attack, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Iran and Israel have agreed to a “complete and total” ceasefire.

Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar is the largest U.S. base in the Middle East and regional HQ for U.S. Central Command. The base hosts around 10,000 troops.

While no injuries were reported in the Iranian attack on the U.S. air base in Qatar, the attack sent geopolitical shockwaves across the region and prompted a fresh round of statements from U.S. President Donald Trump, who initially downplayed the incident and urged both Iran and Israel to pursue peace.

The missile strike on the U.S. military facility came in response to U.S. involvement in an ongoing Israeli military campaign against Iran that began on June 13. The conflict was triggered by an Israeli airstrike on Iranian facilities believed to be involved in nuclear weapons and ballistic missile development.

Over the weekend, the United States intensified the crisis by deploying 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs against Iranian underground nuclear facilities, a move that was widely seen as Washington entering Israel’s war against Tehran.

Measured strike

According to U.S. and Iranian officials, Iran launched 14 missiles at Al Udeid, a strategic U.S. air base that hosts thousands of American troops and advanced surveillance and command systems.

Notably, Iran provided early notice of the attack via diplomatic channels to both the U.S. and Qatari governments. While this gesture helped avoid casualties, it also signaled Tehran’s intention to demonstrate resolve without escalating into full-scale war.

🚨🇺🇸🇶🇦🇮🇷 BREAKING: IRANIAN MISSILES BEING INTERCEPTED OVER QATAR pic.twitter.com/Ee14HnThhX

— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) June 23, 2025

“We did not assault anyone, and we will never accept being assaulted by anyone,” declared Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “We will not submit to anyone’s aggression, this is the logic of the Iranian nation.”

President Trump acknowledged the early warning in a social media post on Truth Social: “I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured. Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same.”

Trump further dismissed the missile attack as “a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered,” adding, “Most importantly, they’ve gotten it all out of their ‘system,’ and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE.”

Diplomatic response

The strike has had ripple effects across the Persian Gulf. Qatar, Iran’s closest Arab ally and host of the targeted U.S. base, issued a rare condemnation. “There are deep ties between the two states (Iran and Qatar) and the two nations, but the attack undoubtedly calls for a genuine meeting and a clear stance,” said Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari.

The condemnation was echoed by other Gulf nations including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, and Iraq, all of whom view Iranian missile activity in the region as destabilizing.

Qatar suspended its airspace in response to the attack, reopening it early Tuesday after assessing the security situation, according to its civil aviation authority.

Israeli offences

While Iran’s missile response was relatively contained, Israel ramped up its military campaign, striking deep inside Tehran. According to Israeli officials, the latest wave of attacks was the most extensive yet and deliberately targeted regime structures.

Strikes hit Evin Prison, a notorious detention center known for holding political prisoners and foreign detainees, as well as Revolutionary Guard command centers. “The military was currently striking, with unprecedented force, regime targets and governmental repression bodies in the heart of Tehran,” said Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Footage aired on Iran’s state broadcaster showed rescue workers retrieving wounded individuals from the rubble at Evin. According to judiciary-affiliated Mizan News, authorities were scrambling to ensure the safety of inmates.

Electricity cuts were reported across Tehran, with Tasnim News Agency confirming a strike on an electricity feeder in the Evin neighborhood. State-run power company Tavanir attributed blackouts in parts of the city to the Israeli air campaign.

Risk of a broader war

The situation has stirred fears of an uncontrollable escalation. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi warned that Tehran was prepared to respond again if provoked further by the United States.

Echoing that tone, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s powerful Khatam al-Anbiya central military command, warned in a video statement, “Mr Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it.”

Despite these warnings, Iran appears cautious. By giving advanced notice of its strike and refraining from targeting civilian or U.S. personnel, Tehran demonstrated a desire to balance retaliation with de-escalation, a pattern consistent with its past conflicts with the U.S. and Israel.

Meanwhile, efforts are reportedly underway within Iran to prepare for potential succession. Five insiders familiar with discussions indicated that two figures, Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ayatollah Khamenei, and Hassan Khomeini, grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, are emerging as potential successors to the 86-year-old Supreme Leader.

Trump announces ceasefire

In a dramatic twist on late Monday, President Trump announced that both Iran and Israel had agreed to a “complete and total” ceasefire. “On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel, and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, ‘THE 12 DAY WAR,’” he wrote.

“This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will! God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!”

Israel confirmed the ceasefire and the government statement noted that the country agrees to the U.S. president’s proposal for a ceasefire with Iran. However the statement highlighted that Israel will respond to any violation of the ceasefire.

“CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE…” –President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/hLTBT34KnG

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 23, 2025

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the Security Cabinet last night, together with the Defense Minister, the IDF Chief-of-Staff and the Director of the Mossad, in order to report that Israel has achieved all of the objectives of Operation Rising Lion,” Israeli government statement read.

According to Iranian media reports, soon after the announcement of ceasefire, Iranian armed forces launched a final salvo of missiles towards Israel, which made direct impacts.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed the ceasefire but Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Mohammad Pakpour warned that any renewed U.S. aggression would be met with “even more crushing and regret-inducing responses, which will serve as a lesson for history.”

Oil prices drop

In an unexpected turn, oil markets reacted calmly to the newly unfolding situation. Despite Tehran’s threats to disrupt energy shipments through the Gulf, crude oil prices fell by 7% in volatile trading on Monday. Analysts interpreted the dip as a sign that markets doubt Iran’s willingness, or ability, to launch a sustained disruption of global oil flows.

Iran’s diplomatic efforts

In a bid to shore up support Tehran, Iran’s foreign minister met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday. The meeting signaled Tehran’s intent to secure diplomatic backing from its few remaining major allies as it faces growing international isolation.

As the dust begins to settle, the Middle East once again finds itself at a precarious crossroads, one missile away from all-out war, or perhaps, as Trump optimistically framed it, at the doorstep of a hard-won peace. The next 24 hours will likely determine whether the 12-day conflict truly ends, or merely pauses for the next eruption.