US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire, bringing an end to a 12-day war between the Middle East rivals. The statement was made on his Truth Social platform, where he detailed the timeline of the ceasefire, stating it would begin within six hours and last for 24 hours, with the war officially ending by the 24th hour. The agreement followed a series of escalating hostilities, with Iran retaliating against US strikes on its nuclear facilities by firing missiles at the US military base in Qatar.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied the existence of a formal ceasefire agreement, but stated that Iran would cease its attacks if Israel did the same by 4 a.m. Tehran time. The conflict began on June 13 with a series of Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, including the assassination of several Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the operation as a necessary step to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Iran, which denies possessing a military nuclear program, responded with missile and drone attacks on Israeli targets. This led to further escalation on June 22, when US B-2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles targeted three Iranian nuclear sites, including uranium enrichment facilities in Natanz and Fordow. The following day, Iran retaliated by launching missiles at the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, marking a significant intensification of the conflict.
Despite the announced ceasefire, the situation remains complex. While Trump has declared an end to the war, Iranian officials have not confirmed the agreement. The ceasefire’s implementation is contingent on both sides adhering to the terms, and its success will depend on the parties’ ability to maintain restraint. This development comes amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East, with the potential for further conflict if the ceasefire is not sustained.