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Iranians rally in Tehran on June 24, after the ceasefire was announced. EPA
Iranians rally in Tehran on June 24, after the ceasefire was announced. EPA
Iranians rally in Tehran on June 24, after the ceasefire was announced. EPA
Iranians rally in Tehran on June 24, after the ceasefire was announced. EPA

Iranians voice relief and reservations after ceasefire with Israel declared


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Tehran was quiet and people apprehensive on Tuesday morning as news came through of a ceasefire with Israel and subsequent violations, residents of the Iranian capital said.

“People are being cautious. Everywhere was closed, except two or three cafes,” a resident told The National. “It got a bit busier around noon. People were uncertain. Then Israeli planes came and broke the sound barrier.”

At least 610 people have been killed and more than 4,700 wounded in Iran since the start of the war with Israel on June 13, Iran’s Health Ministry has said. In Israel, the death toll rose to at least 28 after an Iranian attack on the southern city of Beersheba hours before the ceasefire came into force.

Iranians were inspecting the damage to their homes and buildings in Tehran on Wednesday. EPA
Iranians were inspecting the damage to their homes and buildings in Tehran on Wednesday. EPA

The ceasefire was announced by US President Donald Trump hours after Iran retaliated for American strikes on three of its nuclear plants by launching missiles at Al Udeid US military base in Qatar on Monday evening.

In Iran, there was hope that the ceasefire would hold, but an awareness that it might not. In the hours after it was announced, both sides traded accusations of breaching the agreement.

“The ceasefire is very vulnerable, especially given Israel’s history in violating these kinds of agreements,” Seyed Emamian, assistant professor at Tehran Polytechnic University, told The National. In Lebanon, Israel has continued to strike targets that it says are linked to the Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah, despite a ceasefire following a conflict last year.

There was a “sense of national pride” that Iran claimed the last strike before the ceasefire went into effect, added Mr Emamian, who is also co-founder of Iran’s Governance and Policy think tank.

A member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stands guard at a square in Tehran. AP
A member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stands guard at a square in Tehran. AP

Some Iranians also supported the attack on Al Udeid in Qatar, which was carried out by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Iranian state television highlighted how the ceasefire came shortly after the attack on Al Udeid, and broadcast pictures of people celebrating in the streets of Tehran. Revolutionary Guard commander Maj Gen Mohammad Pakpour said further US strikes on Iran would draw “more crushing responses”, in remarks carried by the IRGC-aligned Tasnim news agency.

At the same time, the strikes appeared to have been carefully choreographed, and allowed Tehran to show that it had responded to the US strikes on its territory while minimising the chances of further escalation.

They were communicated in advance, framed by officials as an attack on the US and not on Qatar, and did not lead to any casualties.

Some Iranians were less celebratory over an attack on the soil of a neighbouring country, at a time when Iran is trying to improve relations with its Gulf neighbours.

“Ordinary people” who do not support the Iranian government, “were shocked by last night's violent attack", the resident of Tehran said.

An Iranian woman removes debris from her house in Tehran after it was damaged by an Israeli strike. EPA
An Iranian woman removes debris from her house in Tehran after it was damaged by an Israeli strike. EPA

Physical and emotional toll

Iranians described the past 12 days as “extremely difficult”. As well as the destruction of civilian buildings as well as military installations, the emotional toll has been immense. Thousands of people have fled major cities such as Tehran and Isfahan to seek safety in smaller urban centres. Property has been damaged and destroyed, and businesses have been closed.

With Israeli attacks occurring daily and a lack of adequate shelters or a warning network, first responders used Instagram to share advice on on how to minimise exposure during an attack, and others shared tips for keeping children as calm as possible. Internet interruptions increased fear and anxiety as they prevented friends and family from communicating with each other.

“It was 12 really difficult days, especially for women, children, the elderly, workers and also for Afghan migrants,” another resident of Tehran told The National, referring to millions of Afghans who often work low-paid jobs in Iran. “I hope the ceasefire sticks and it results in peace.”

Israel repeatedly struck Tehran after issuing eviction orders similar to those imposed in Gaza and Lebanon. Reuters
Israel repeatedly struck Tehran after issuing eviction orders similar to those imposed in Gaza and Lebanon. Reuters

Businesses, already struggling with inflation above 30 per cent and power shortages, were badly affected by the conflict, the resident, a businessman, continued.

“Almost all this time, most of the private sector was closed. Only factories producing basic goods were open and the government also worked at 30 per cent capacity, and foreign and domestic trade practically stopped for a short time,” he said.

The ceasefire announcement had enabled many people to return to work, he said. “We also started working in our company with half the staff today.”

However, there are fears that a ceasefire would simply enable Israel to recover from the damage caused by the few Iranian missiles that made impact, and restock its air defence systems that intercepted most of them.

“There is a group of critics that think this interruption will benefit Israel more,” Mr Emamian said.

Uncertain future

Iranians are aware that the situation is not stable, and what happens next is uncertain.

Even some government officials are unsure of Iran's next steps, aware that the ceasefire with Israel is an unwritten agreement negotiated indirectly with a country that they do not recognise.

After the Israel launched its attacks on June 13, Iranian officials insisted they would not return to the nuclear negotiations with the US, which had been scheduled to reconvene for a sixth round just two days later.

Israel has opposed the talks aimed at containing Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of US sanctions, and there is no guarantee that it will not attack again if Washington and Tehran resume negotiations.

At the same time, Iran's leaders could face more domestic opposition to negotiations with a country that participated in direct bombings of its territory, and is seen as Israel’s main enabler in the 12-day war.

“It is really impossible to comment at the moment,” a senior government official told The National when asked whether Iran would return to talks with the US.

“We are facing the conditions of an unwritten and fragile ceasefire. So we have to wait and see, and if this situation stabilises, then we will move on to the next steps and reactions from the parties.”

UAE%20v%20West%20Indies
%3Cp%3EFirst%20ODI%20-%20Sunday%2C%20June%204%20%0D%3Cbr%3ESecond%20ODI%20-%20Tuesday%2C%20June%206%20%0D%3Cbr%3EThird%20ODI%20-%20Friday%2C%20June%209%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMatches%20at%20Sharjah%20Cricket%20Stadium.%20All%20games%20start%20at%204.30pm%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMuhammad%20Waseem%20(captain)%2C%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20Adithya%20Shetty%2C%20Ali%20Naseer%2C%20Ansh%20Tandon%2C%20Aryansh%20Sharma%2C%20Asif%20Khan%2C%20Basil%20Hameed%2C%20Ethan%20D%E2%80%99Souza%2C%20Fahad%20Nawaz%2C%20Jonathan%20Figy%2C%20Junaid%20Siddique%2C%20Karthik%20Meiyappan%2C%20Lovepreet%20Singh%2C%20Matiullah%2C%20Mohammed%20Faraazuddin%2C%20Muhammad%20Jawadullah%2C%20Rameez%20Shahzad%2C%20Rohan%20Mustafa%2C%20Sanchit%20Sharma%2C%20Vriitya%20Aravind%2C%20Zahoor%20Khan%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

Black Panther
Dir: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o
Five stars

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
if you go

The flights

Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com

Seeing the games

Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com

 

Staying there

Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com

 

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Types of fraud

Phishing: Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.

Smishing: The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.

Vishing: The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.

SIM swap: Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.

Identity theft: Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.

Prize scams: Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.

* Nada El Sawy

Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association
Five healthy carbs and how to eat them

Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand

Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat  

Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar

Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices

Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants

Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique

European arms

Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons.  Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.

Brief scoreline:

Liverpool 2

Mane 51', Salah 53'

Chelsea 0

Man of the Match: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
PRO BASH

Thursday’s fixtures

6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors

10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters

Teams

Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.

Squad rules

All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.

Tournament rules

The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sideup%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202019%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Waleed%20Rashed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cairo%2C%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20technology%2C%20e-commerce%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%241.2%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Launch%20Africa%20VC%2C%20500%20Global%2C%20Riyadh%20Angels%2C%20Alex%20Angels%2C%20Al%20Tuwaijri%20Fund%20and%20Saudi%20angel%20investor%20Faisal%20Al%20Abdulsalam%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Adele: The Stories Behind The Songs
Caroline Sullivan
Carlton Books

Huddersfield Town permanent signings:

  • Steve Mounie (striker): signed from Montpellier for £11 million
  • Tom Ince (winger): signed from Derby County for £7.7m
  • Aaron Mooy (midfielder): signed from Manchester City for £7.7m
  • Laurent Depoitre (striker): signed from Porto for £3.4m
  • Scott Malone (defender): signed from Fulham for £3.3m
  • Zanka (defender): signed from Copenhagen for £2.3m
  • Elias Kachunga (winger): signed for Ingolstadt for £1.1m
  • Danny WIlliams (midfielder): signed from Reading on a free transfer

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

Winners

Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski

Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea

Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona

Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)

Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)

Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)

Best National Team of the Year: Italy 

Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello

Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)

Player Career Award: Ronaldinho

Updated: June 25, 2025, 10:58 AM`