In a surprising announcement late Monday evening, U.S. President Donald Trump declared via his social media platform Truth Social that Israel and Iran have reached an agreement in principle to cease hostilities in the ongoing conflict he referred to as the “12 Day War.” According to Trump’s post, a ceasefire is expected to begin in approximately six hours, signalling a possible end to the recent violent clashes between the two nations.
“CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in-progress, final missions!), for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!” Trump wrote emphatically.
Trump outlined a phased timeline for a truce in his message. He stated that Iran will initiate the ceasefire first, followed by Israel after 12 hours. After a full 24 hours of ceasefire, the conflict would officially be declared over. During these ceasefire periods, Trump insisted that both sides would remain “PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL.”
US President Donald Trump posts, “CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final… pic.twitter.com/a6mSgitrzn
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2025
On the announcement, Trump commented, “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.’ This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will!”
However, as of now, neither the Israeli government nor Iranian officials have officially confirmed the ceasefire agreement or the detailed terms of the proposed truce.
Context of Escalating Tensions
The announcement comes amid escalating tensions in the region. Iran retaliated against recent U.S. airstrikes targeting its nuclear facilities by launching missile attacks on U.S. military bases in Qatar and Iraq.
According to a report by Axios citing an Israeli official, Iran fired six missiles aimed at U.S. troops stationed in Qatar. Iran’s National Security Council publicly confirmed the missile strike on the U.S. base located in Qatar. The Qatari authorities reported that all Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted, and no casualties were reported.
Contrastingly, Iran’s state-affiliated Mehr News Agency claimed that at least three missiles hit the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The New York Times further reported that Iran had provided advance warning to Qatar about the impending strike in an effort to minimise casualties.
This cycle of retaliatory strikes and counterstrikes has raised international concerns over a broader escalation in the Middle East conflict.
Awaiting Official Confirmation
While Trump’s declaration offers a hopeful prospect for de-escalation, observers and analysts remain cautious. Official statements from Israel and Iran will be crucial to verifying the ceasefire and understanding the potential implications for regional stability.
The international community is watching closely as the situation develops, hoping that diplomacy and dialogue will replace violence in this sensitive geopolitical landscape.
