By Pathfinder Reporter
Tuesday June 24, 2025
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In a dramatic turn of events, United States President Donald Trump has declared that Iran and Israel have reached a “complete and total” ceasefire agreement, set to take effect within hours.
The announcement came just moments after Iran launched a missile strike on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, a strategic military installation hosting U.S. troops.
“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,’” Trump said in a social media post.
“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!”
Trump’s message indicated that Iran would halt attacks on Israel hours before Israel concludes its military operations.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran would cease its strikes if Israel also stopped. It remains unclear what role Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei played in the negotiations, especially as he earlier declared on social media that Iran would not back down. Israel has yet to publicly affirm any intention to end hostilities.
“As of now, there is NO ‘agreement’ on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations,” Araghchi posted on social media. “However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 am Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response afterward.”
An official source said the Qatari government played a key role in brokering the expected ceasefire. Trump reportedly spoke with Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to express appreciation for his efforts. Qatar has been a primary mediator in previous ceasefire and hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas in the ongoing Gaza conflict.
The specific terms of the ceasefire, apart from the timing outlined by the Trump administration, remain unclear.
Israel will ‘respond forcefully to Iran’s ceasefire violation’ – Defence minister
Notwithstanding the ceasefire, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday he had ordered the army “to respond forcefully to Iran’s violation of the ceasefire” after incoming Iranian missiles were reported by the military.
“I instructed the Israeli army to respond forcefully to Iran’s violation of the ceasefire by launching powerful strikes against regime targets in the heart of Tehran,” Katz said in a statement.
US President Donald Trump announced a phased 24-hour ceasefire process beginning at around 0400 GMT Tuesday, which Israel said it had agreed to. Iran has not formally accepted a ceasefire.
Assassination fear: Iran’s leader Khamenei chooses three successors, shuns son
Meanwhile, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly handpicked three potential successors in case he is killed during Israel’s ongoing military campaign — a revelation that signals unprecedented urgency inside Tehran’s highest ranks.
Recall that Israel has threatened to eliminate the Iranian President.
According to an investigative report by The New York Times on Saturday, the 86-year-old Supreme Leader, now operating from a fortified bunker, privately named three senior clerics to assume power should he die during the conflict.
The Times cites “senior Iranian officials” who say Khamenei made the selections after a string of high-level assassinations by Israeli forces.
Significantly, Khamenei’s influential son, Mojtaba, long rumored to be groomed for succession, was not included in the list
This marks a dramatic shift from years of speculation that a dynastic handover was being engineered behind the scenes, Jerusalem Post also reports on Saturday.
“Khamenei has nominated three clerics as potential successors while hiding in a bunker… Mojtaba is not among them,” reported The New York Times, citing confidential Iranian sources close to the leadership.
The Jerusalem Post corroborated the report, noting that the Supreme Leader has also “selected replacements down his military chain of command” in anticipation of further Israeli strikes that could decimate his inner circle.
Under normal conditions, Iran’s Supreme Leader is chosen by the Assembly of Experts — an 88-member clerical body.
But Khamenei’s reported actions suggest he is attempting to shape that outcome in advance, potentially bypassing traditional structures to preserve his ideological legacy and prevent internal fractures.
Analysts say the selection of three clerics, rather than one, reflects both a lack of consensus within Iran’s ruling elite and the urgency of contingency planning as the threat level escalates.
While names have not been officially released, the report indicates the candidates are figures trusted by Khamenei and aligned with the regime’s hardline core.
Implications Beyond Iran
The move has immediate geopolitical consequences. With the region on edge following Israeli strikes on senior Iranian and Hezbollah commanders, the specter of regime instability could further inflame the Middle East.
It also raises questions about the viability of Iran’s leadership structure should Khamenei be incapacitated.
“Khamenei’s action signals a regime that sees the risk of decapitation as real,” said a senior regional intelligence official quoted in The New York Times. “It is succession planning not in theory — but under fire.”
Background Brief, Timeline
Assassination Fears Push Khamenei Into Bunker
Amid rising fears of assassination, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly gone underground and handpicked three senior clerics to succeed him, excluding his influential son, Mojtaba Khamenei. The move comes as Israeli airstrikes and covert operations target Tehran’s top command structure.
A Break From Dynastic Succession
For years, analysts believed Mojtaba Khamenei was being groomed as heir. But his omission signals a deliberate pivot away from hereditary leadership. Instead, the Supreme Leader is reportedly favoring ideologically aligned clerics trusted by the hardline establishment.
“Mojtaba’s exclusion is a message: no dynasty here.” — Times of India, June 21, 2025
“The three unnamed clerics reflect hardline continuity, not reformist compromise.” — New York Post, June 21, 2025.
Regional Ripples and Succession Uncertainty
With Iran bracing for a leadership transition during wartime, questions loom over how the Assembly of Experts will respond. Traditionally empowered to choose the next Supreme Leader, the Assembly may now be sidelined by Khamenei’s preemptive maneuvering. Regional players are watching closely, as Iran’s internal cohesion and external posture hang in the balance.
“The Assembly of Experts may still have formal power, but Khamenei’s choices could shape succession beyond the grave.” — Financial Times, June 20, 2025.
“The Islamic Republic is preparing for a transition in the shadow of war.” — Punch Newspaper, June 21, 2025.
What Happens Next
The Assembly of Experts could still exercise formal authority, but if Khamenei’s influence continues beyond the grave — through his private picks — Iran’s post-Khamenei era may be shaped more by survivalism than clerical consensus.
For now, the message from Tehran is clear: the Islamic Republic is bracing for a leadership transition in the shadow of war, multiple media agencies report.
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