Victory for Peace: The Ceasefire Between Israel and Iran Offers a Pathway of Hope

 By Atty. Arnedo S. Valera

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”
In a world increasingly fractured by war, nationalism, and ideological extremism, these words from Scripture ring with renewed urgency and power. For today, we bear witness to an extraordinary development—one that rekindles hope in humanity’s capacity for restraint, wisdom, and peace.

After weeks of terrifying escalation, marked by missile exchanges, retaliatory drone strikes, and the tragic loss of civilian lives across the Middle East, Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire. This breakthrough, while fragile and conditional, represents more than just a pause in hostilities—it is a triumph of diplomacy, a lifeline for innocent lives, and a testament to the power of dialogue behind closed doors.

The Ceasefire: A Turning Point Amid Chaos

The agreement came at the heels of one of the most dangerous escalations since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. After Iran launched retaliatory attacks on U.S. bases in Qatar following Israeli strikes on key Iranian military sites, the region braced for a full-scale war that many feared would engulf not only the Middle East but global powers with vested strategic interests.

In the most perilous moment of the crisis, the United States—under the Trump administration and without Congressional approval—executed a surprise strategic strike on three suspected Iranian nuclear sites. While this bold and controversial action was publicly justified as a defensive move to prevent a regional nuclear catastrophe, it also served a calculated purpose: to force Iran to the negotiating table, to demonstrate overwhelming military deterrence, and to send a signal to allies and adversaries alike that nuclear proliferation would not be tolerated.

The destruction of those sites created intense international pressure. While it sparked protests and condemnation in some quarters, it also shocked both Israel and Iran into recalibrating their next moves. Realizing that continued escalation could trigger a multi-front war involving the U.S., NATO, and even Russia or China, both sides quietly agreed to a diplomatic pathway forward. The United States, pivoting swiftly, leveraged its military momentum into diplomatic capital, pressing all actors to embrace a ceasefire rather than risk regional annihilation.

Behind the Scenes: The Invisible Architects of Peace

What the world saw were missiles, smoke, and casualties. What the world did not see were the tireless efforts of backchannel diplomacy:

• Omani intermediaries, long trusted by both Tehran and Tel Aviv, facilitated encrypted communications that allowed both parties to save face while exploring common ground.

• Swiss envoys, historically neutral and respected by all sides, acted as couriers of conditions and clarifications.

• Qatar and Turkey, each with complex ties to both the U.S. and Iran, played quiet roles in urging restraint.

• The Vatican, through its Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, reportedly issued a moral appeal that echoed deeply in both Jewish and Islamic quarters.

• Even civil society actors, including Israeli and Iranian peace organizations, mounted parallel pressure campaigns urging leaders not to pursue a path of annihilation.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration executed a dual role—military enforcer and diplomatic broker. After the strikes, American envoys from the State Department and intelligence community engaged in round-the-clock shuttle diplomacy, persuading European allies, the United Nations, and Arab League members to support a ceasefire framework under international monitoring.

A Crucial Next Step: A Verifiable Nuclear Agreement

While this ceasefire is a critical step forward, it cannot stand alone. We must build on this momentum by pursuing a verifiable, enforceable, and permanent agreement that guarantees Iran’s nuclear program will never lead to the development or possession of nuclear weapons. The international community must insist on robust inspections, real-time monitoring, and clearly defined red lines—without ambiguity or delay.

A Middle East without nuclear weapons is not only a global security imperative; it is a moral obligation to future generations. True peace cannot be sustained with the lingering threat of atomic warfare hanging in the balance. The United States, having wielded both hard and soft power in recent weeks, must now assume leadership in convening a new multilateral nuclear accord—one that restores international trust and ensures regional stability.

A Victory Not of One Side, But for All Humanity

Let us be clear: no one "won" this conflict in military terms. The losses were real—lives lost, infrastructure destroyed, futures shattered.

But in agreeing to lay down arms, however conditionally, Israel and Iran have won something far greater:

• The chance to recalibrate their future not through war, but through mutual deterrence and diplomacy.

• The ability to preserve lives, particularly those of civilians who have borne the brunt of these ideological battles.

• And the opportunity to reimagine what regional security can look like when rooted not in fear, but in mutual survival and shared humanity.

This is not idealism. This is strategic realism, built on the understanding that in modern warfare, there are no true victors—only survivors, and graveyards.

The Road Ahead: Fragile, But Full of Possibility

The path to permanent peace will not be easy. Hardliners on both sides are already denouncing the ceasefire as a betrayal or weakness. The threat of renewed violence remains, especially from non-state actors and rogue factions. But the precedent has been set:

• Dialogue is possible, even when rhetoric suggests otherwise.

• Civilians are not bargaining chips; their voices matter.

• Backdoor diplomacy is not cowardice, but wisdom in a nuclear age.

As the world watches, we must ask: Can this moment become the foundation for a new regional architecture rooted in coexistence rather than confrontation?

A Light in the Darkness

The Israel-Iran ceasefire is not the end of conflict, but it is a sacred pause—a rare moment when reason overcomes rage, and hope defeats hatred. It reminds us that war is always a choice, and so too is peace.

Let this be a call to all nations and leaders: invest in peace with the same urgency and funding you invest in war. Let this ceasefire not be a footnote in the annals of conflict, but the prologue of a new chapter for the Middle East and the world.

For if Israel and Iran—two bitter adversaries with decades of enmity—can choose the path of peace, so can we all.

“Yes, there is a pathway to violence. But there is also a pathway to peace. We choose hope.”

Atty. Arnedo S. Valera is the executive director of the Global Migrant Heritage Foundation and managing attorney at Valera & Associates, a US immigration and anti-discrimination law firm for over 32 years. He holds a master’s degree in International Affairs and International Law and Human Rights from Columbia University and was trained at the International Institute of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws from Ateneo de Manila University.  He is an AB-Philosophy Major at the University  of Santo Tomas ( UST). He is a professor at San Beda Graduate School of Law (LLM Program), teaching International Security and Alliances.