It remained to be seen whether the attack would ignite a regional war or provide the U.S. and Iran with an off-ramp from their intensifying confrontation.

TEHRAN — Iran's foreign minister said Tuesday Tehran did not intend to continue its strikes if Israel stopped its attacks, hours after US President Donald Trump announced a staggered ceasefire to bring about an 'official end' to their conflict.

The United States has attacked three sites in Iran, inserting itself into Israel’s war aimed at destroying the country’s nuclear program in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe that prompted fears of a wider regional conflict.