Washington DC: United States President Donald Trump has announced that Iran and Israel have agreed to a ‘complete and total’ ceasefire following 12 days of escalating conflict, though neither country has officially confirmed the agreement. Trump’s statement came just hours after Iran launched a missile strike on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which houses US forces.
In a social media post, Trump referred to the conflict as ‘THE 12 DAY WAR’, saying, “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 added that, “This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will! God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!”
https://t.co/FvLK6djP9w pic.twitter.com/36Q8EJiqqq
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 23, 2025
Trump’s remarks suggested that Iran would stop launching missiles several hours before Israel concludes its military campaign. However, on-the-ground reports from Tehran contradicted his statement
The announcement has raised doubts among analysts and regional observers. Trump’s declaration lacked crucial details, including whether any formal negotiations would follow the ceasefire.
Last week, Trump said he would decide within two weeks whether the US would join the war, but two days later, he authorized American strikes on Iranian targets. The US launched attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
The war began in the early hours of June 13, when Israel launched an unprovoked, large-scale attack on Iranian territory, killing several top Iranian generals. Israeli officials claimed the offensive was a preemptive move to disrupt Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. Iran condemned the attacks as illegal under international law, calling them an unprovoked violation of the United Nations Charter.
Iran retaliated by firing hundreds of missiles at Israeli targets, causing widespread destruction and numerous casualties. The tit-for-tat escalations culminated in missile attack by Iran on the US-run Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, a move Qatar strongly condemned as a ‘blatant violation’ of its sovereignty.
Trump responded to Iran’s latest strike by dismissing it as ‘weak’ and stating that the US would not retaliate further. Despite the claim of de-escalation, the actual impact on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure remains unclear. Iran maintains that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons, while Israel is widely believed to possess an undeclared nuclear arsenal.
As of now, the ceasefire remains unverified, with continued military activity casting uncertainty over Trump’s announcement and the prospects for peace in the region.
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