President Donald Trump announced a surprise ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran on Monday, declaring an end to the intense 12-day conflict that erupted following a U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. The ceasefire is set to take effect Tuesday, following a final round of military actions by both sides.
According to Trump’s post on Truth Social, Iran will begin halting its operations first, with Israel following 12 hours later. “Upon the 24th Hour, an official end to the 12 Day War,” he stated, praising both nations for choosing diplomacy over continued conflict.
Despite the announcement, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied any formal deal had been reached. However, he acknowledged that if Israel ceases its military actions by 4 a.m. Tehran time, Iran would not escalate further. “Provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people… we have no intention to continue our response,” he posted on X.
U.S. and Qatari officials played key roles in brokering the ceasefire. Trump reportedly secured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s support in a direct call, followed by a successful outreach to Iran through Qatari mediation. Iran had just launched a ballistic missile barrage at a U.S. base in Qatar, a move described by U.S. officials as largely symbolic.
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and special envoy Steve Witkoff were involved in ongoing communications with both sides. Vance emphasized that the ceasefire was a strategic success, declaring Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities and missile infrastructure as significantly damaged or destroyed.
While sporadic attacks continued into the night, Israeli forces remained on high alert, and public restrictions in Israel stayed in place. Nonetheless, U.S. officials expressed confidence that the worst of the conflict had passed and that this ceasefire could mark a pivotal moment for Middle East peace.
