US President Donald Trump on Monday announced a dramatic ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel, bringing an end to a 12-day missile conflict that drew in the United States.
The ceasefire comes just hours after the US launched precision strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, escalating global concerns over a wider regional war.
Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to declare that Iran and Israel had fully agreed to a ‘Complete and Total CEASEFIRE’.
He stated that the truce would begin six hours from the announcement, around midnight Washington time, or 9:30 AM IST, once both countries had concluded their ongoing ‘final missions’.
Labelling the conflict as ‘The 12 Day War’, Trump thanked both countries for what he called the ‘Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence’ required to bring the war to a close.
His announcement came shortly after the US launched a trio of airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in Isfahan, Natanz, and Firdo, using B-2 stealth bombers.
Trump, known for his long-standing hostility toward Tehran, surprised observers by writing, “I want to thank Iran,” signalling a potential shift in tone after the high-stakes military campaign.
US President Trump revealed that Iran had fired 14 missiles at a US military base in Qatar, but had notified Washington in advance.
US forces intercepted 13 of the missiles and reported no casualties.
President Trump described the strike as ‘symbolic’ and said Iran had ‘gotten it all out of their system’.
He said that the limited and non-lethal retaliation allowed him to feel ‘set free’, since the attack did not pose a direct threat to American lives or assets.
The terms of the ceasefire, according to Trump, involve a phased stand-down. Iran will cease fire first, with Israel expected to respect it. This will be followed by a 12-hour Israeli ceasefire.
After 24 hours, the parties will declare the ceasefire permanent and, as President Trump said, the world will salute it.
The US entered the conflict after nearly 10 days of non-involvement, joining Israel after Iran responded to the initial bombings. Trump’s decision to act without traditional allies appears to have paid off — if the truce holds.
Iran, which had expected diplomatic or military backing from Russia and China, found itself isolated. Neither Moscow nor Beijing responded after the US bombs targeted Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure.
The ceasefire announcement followed what appeared to be a missed diplomatic opportunity. Israel launched airstrikes on Iran just two days before a planned meeting between US and Iranian representatives.
The attack derailed efforts to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 nuclear agreement that Trump had scrapped during his presidency.
The United Nations Security Council will meet on Tuesday to discuss the future of the JCPOA, amid global uncertainty about the durability of the new ceasefire.
Also Read: Iran Launches Missiles Against US Bases In Iraq And Qatar, No Major Damage Reported
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