MANILA – The Philippines expressed optimism as it welcomed the announcement from the United States of America of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement on Wednesday.
According to the DFA, with the latest announcement from the U.S., it is “hopeful that it will be a crucial step towards achieving lasting peace in the region.”
“We urge all parties concerned to continue engaging in dialogue and negotiations toward a permanent solution to this issue,” the statement read.
(Courtesy of DFA)
The ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump between Iran and Israel appeared to be holding on Wednesday, a day after both countries signalled that their air war has ended, atleast for now, Reuters reported.
Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, said late on Tuesday that talks between the United States and Iran were "promising" and that Washington was hopeful for a long-term peace deal.
Israel's bombing campaign, launched with a surprise attack on June 13, wiped out the top echelon of Iran's military leadership, killed its leading nuclear scientists and targeted nuclear sites and missiles.
Iran responded with missiles that pierced Israel's defences in large numbers for the first time, according to reports by Reuters.
Iranian authorities said 610 people were killed and nearly 5,000 injured in Iran, where the extent of the damage could not be independently confirmed because of tight restrictions on media. Twenty-eight people were killed in Israel.
The United States joined two days before the end of the war, by dropping huge bunker-busting bombs on nuclear sites, including the most sensitive buried under a mountain.
Trump said it had "obliterated" Iran's nuclear programme, making it impossible for Iran to make an atomic bomb, effectively sweeping the main issue of contention at talks off the table. Iran has always denied seeking nuclear weapons.
(With reporting from Reuters, writing by Peter Graff, Jonathan Allen, Stephen Coates; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
