U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that Israel and Iran have agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire” to be phased in over 24 hours.
On his Truth Social website, the president of the United States stated that the ceasefire would result in the “Official END” of the war. Such an agreement would mark a major change in the hostilities that followed a U.S. strike over the weekend on three Iranian nuclear sites and Iran’s retaliatory strike on a U.S. military base in Qatar earlier Monday.
Trump wrote in a post, “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.'” Trump said that fighting will continue for six hours into Tuesday morning local time, at which point Iran will begin its side of the ceasefire. Israel will join 12 hours later, Trump said, “and, upon the 24th hour, an official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the world,” he wrote.
The Israeli military declined to comment on Trump’s statement and the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. There was also no immediate comment from Iran.
“For the Iranians, I think this is a new opportunity to actually pursue the path of peace” and end its nuclear program for good, U.S. Vice-President JD Vance told Fox News in an interview taking place moments after Trump posted his statement.“ The president really hit the reset button and said, ‘Look, let’s actually produce long-term peace for the region.’ That’s always been his goal.” Vance said the six-hour deadline for the ceasefire to begin recognized that overnight fighting will likely continue, but “tomorrow really is a new day.”
Reuters reported that Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani secured Tehran’s agreement to the U.S. proposal for a ceasefire during a call with Iranian officials.
An official briefed on the negotiations told Reuters the phone call came after Trump told Qatar’s emir that Israel had agreed to the ceasefire and asked for Doha’s help persuading Tehran to also agree to the deal.News of a ceasefire came shortly after Canada and the European Union issued a joint statement urging a “negotiated settlement” to end the conflict.
Trump’s statement came shortly after Iran launched a limited missile attack Monday on a U.S. military base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites but indicating it was prepared to step back from escalating tensions in the volatile region.
Trump says Iran, Israel ceasefire to be phased in over next 24 hours
