In a surprise move, US President Donald Trump announced on Monday evening that Israel and Iran have agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire” after nearly two weeks of violent conflict between the two countries. Trump took to his Truth Social platform to share the news, stating that the ceasefire will take effect in approximately six hours, allowing both countries to wind down their military operations.
According to Trump, the ceasefire will be implemented in phases, with Iran starting the ceasefire and Israel joining 12 hours later. By the 24th hour, the conflict, which Trump referred to as the “12 day war,” will be considered officially ended. Trump congratulated both countries on their courage to end the conflict, which he said could have destroyed the entire Middle East if allowed to persist.
However, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Araghchi has cast doubt on the ceasefire agreement, stating that there is currently no agreement on a ceasefire or cessation of military operations. Araghchi added that Iran will not continue its response to Israeli aggression if the Israeli regime stops its attacks against the Iranian people by 4 am Tehran time.
The announcement comes after a series of escalating attacks between Israel and Iran, with the conflict threatening to destabilize the wider Middle East. Trump’s administration has been actively involved in efforts to broker peace in the region, and the US president has taken credit for averting a wider conflict.
In his post, Trump expressed his gratitude and support for both countries, saying, “God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and God bless the world!” While it remains to be seen whether the ceasefire will hold, Trump’s announcement has been met with cautious optimism by some in the region.
