President Donald Trump has announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran after nearly two weeks of intense conflict, marking the end of what he called the “12-Day War.” The declaration came shortly after Iran fired 14 missiles at a US military base in Qatar in response to American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The announcement was made by Trump on social media on Monday, June 23, in his usual bold tone. He stated that a “Complete and Total CEASEFIRE” would begin within six hours, with Iran initiating the pause in attacks and Israel expected to follow 12 hours later. The ceasefire would then be officially marked 24 hours from the announcement.
Trump claimed that both Iran and Israel approached him “almost simultaneously” to help end the conflict. He credited Qatar for assisting in the negotiations and described the ceasefire as a win for peace and American strength. He also said the truce was reached through direct talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and indirect communication with Iran, involving Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
However, Iran’s stance was more cautious. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran would only halt attacks if Israel stopped its airstrikes by 4 a.m. Tehran time. “As of now, there is NO ‘agreement’ on any ceasefire,” he warned. Despite this statement, Iran launched further missile strikes shortly after the deadline passed, raising doubts about the truce’s immediate effectiveness.
The events unfolded following a major escalation over the weekend, when the US bombed three key Iranian nuclear sites—Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. Trump claimed the strikes crippled Iran’s nuclear ambitions. In response, Iran launched missiles at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which houses US Central Command. Thirteen of the missiles were intercepted, while one was allowed to land as it posed no threat, according to Trump.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt hailed the development as both a military success and a diplomatic breakthrough, crediting Trump with achieving an “unprecedented truce” between the two longtime enemies.
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