In a statement released Tuesday morning before the deal appeared to break down, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the ceasefire “an important step towards restoring stability” in the region and “must be our collective priority.” She added: “We call on Iran to engage seriously in a credible diplomatic process. Because the negotiating table remains the only viable path forward.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also said on Tuesday that he welcomed Trump’s call for a ceasefire describing it as “a very positive development.”
On Monday evening, Trump announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire in what he dubbed the “12 Day War.” Early Tuesday, he declared the ceasefire was in effect, warning “Please do not violate it!”
Trump’s announcement that the ceasefire was in place came just after a flurry of attacks between Iran and Israel. Tehran launched multiple missiles that killed four people in Beersheba, according to Israel’s ambulance service, while Israel carried out a pre-dawn wave of airstrikes on targets across Iran.
Earlier this month, Israel launched military strikes at Iran, seeking to wipe out its nuclear program and top military brass. Trump, who backed Israel, brought the U.S. directly into the war on Saturday, bombing three Iranian nuclear sites. In response, Iran attacked a U.S. air base in Qatar on Monday, just hours before Trump declared the ceasefire.