US President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire, bringing what he described as an “Official END” to the 12-day war. The phased truce, he said, would begin within 24 hours, allowing both sides to conclude “in progress, final missions”.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!), for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!”
However, neither Iran’s United Nations mission nor the Israeli embassy in Washington has responded immediately to the call. However, diplomatic signs of de-escalation had emerged earlier in the day.
According to reports, three Israeli officials privately signalled that Israel was looking to conclude its military campaign in Iran shortly and had conveyed that intent to the United States.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had on Sunday remarked that Israel was "very, very close to completing" its operational objectives, an indication of Israel’s readiness to consider a ceasefire framework.
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A senior Iranian official also confirmed that Tehran had accepted the US-proposed ceasefire terms, which had been under quiet negotiation even as hostilities continued through Monday.
The conflict had escalated rapidly since Israel launched a major military operation on 13 June, prompting days of retaliatory strikes. The situation worsened on Monday when Iran launched a missile attack on a US air base in Qatar in response to an American bombing of its nuclear facilities the previous day.
Trump, speaking earlier on Monday, downplayed the Iranian attack on the Al Udeid Air Base, saying the strike caused no injuries and praising Tehran for providing early warning. He said this restraint demonstrated a willingness to pull back from further escalation.
“I would encourage Israel to proceed towards peace,” Trump said, expressing hope that the situation had stabilised and the worst had been averted.
Trump’s subsequent Truth Social post lauded the diplomatic outcome, “On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, ‘THE 12 DAY WAR.’”
He went on to state, “This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will!”
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