WASHINGTON/TEHRAN/JERUSALEM
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that a complete ceasefire had been reached between Israel and Iran, signaling a potential end to the intense 12-day conflict that displaced millions from Tehran and raised fears of a broader regional war.
Despite Trump’s declaration, there was no immediate confirmation from Israeli officials. In fact, early Tuesday, Israel’s military reported incoming missiles from Iran, stating its defense systems were active in intercepting the threats.
Israel, with U.S. military support over the weekend, had conducted strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, accusing Tehran of nearing the development of a nuclear weapon.
Assuming everything goes as expected—which it will—I’d like to congratulate both Israel and Iran for the strength, courage, and wisdom to end what we should now call ‘The 12-Day War’,” Trump wrote on his social platform, Truth Social.
Mixed Signals from Iran
While an Iranian official confirmed Tehran’s agreement to a ceasefire, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi emphasized that there would be no halt to operations unless Israel ceased what he called “illegal aggression” against Iranian citizens. He stated that if Israel stopped its actions by 4:00 a.m. Tehran time on Tuesday, Iran would not continue its military response.
As of that deadline, no further Israeli attacks had been reported, though Araqchi noted that the final decision on ending Iran’s operations was still pending.
Diplomatic Mediation and Back-Channel Contacts
A senior U.S. official confirmed that Trump brokered the ceasefire during a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The agreement, according to the official, depended on Iran refraining from any new attacks. Trump suggested that any ongoing military operations by both sides would be allowed to conclude before a full ceasefire takes effect.
Qatar reportedly played a mediating role, with Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani securing Iranian consent during high-level discussions. U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and special envoy Steve Witkoff were said to be in both direct and indirect contact with Iranian representatives.
Military and Market Reactions
Although the ceasefire announcement led to optimism, the situation remained unstable. On Monday night and early Tuesday, Israel issued evacuation warnings for areas in Tehran and activated alarms in the Golan Heights over suspected aerial threats.
Earlier in the week, Iran had launched 14 missiles at a U.S. airbase in retaliation for American airstrikes on its nuclear facilities. Trump dismissed the Iranian attack as “a weak response” and thanked Tehran for providing advance notice.
Vice President Vance claimed that the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes over the weekend, including the use of powerful bunker-buster bombs, had effectively dismantled Iran’s ability to build a nuclear weapon. However, this assertion appears to contradict the assessment of U.S. intelligence agencies, which as of earlier this year maintained that Iran was not actively pursuing nuclear weapons.
Trump, in a separate social media post, suggested his administration’s goal included targeting Iran’s ruling regime, hinting at support for broader political change.
Humanitarian Toll and Broader Implications
Tehran, home to nearly 10 million residents, experienced mass evacuations as the city endured days of bombardment. Among the Israeli targets was Evin Prison—known for housing political prisoners—and several government buildings, signaling Israel’s intention to weaken Iran’s central power structure.
The conflict, though relatively brief, has left deep humanitarian and geopolitical scars. While markets reacted positively—S\&P 500 futures climbed and crude oil prices dipped—the broader regional outlook remains uncertain.
As world leaders cautiously welcome the ceasefire, questions remain about its durability and whether the core tensions—particularly around Iran’s nuclear ambitions—can be resolved through diplomacy rather than force.
