Trump Negotiates Israel-Iran Ceasefire, Ending "12 Day War"

Washington, D.C., June 23, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Monday that Israel and Iran have agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire,” claiming it will end a 12-day conflict he dubbed the “12-Day War.” The announcement, made via Trump’s Truth Social platform, came hours after Iran launched a missile attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar, escalating tensions in the volatile region. While Trump hailed the deal as a historic achievement, neither Israel nor Iran has officially confirmed the agreement, and conflicting reports raise questions about its validity.

According to Trump’s post, the ceasefire is set to begin approximately six hours after his announcement, around midnight EDT on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, following the completion of ongoing military operations. The agreement reportedly involves two 12-hour ceasefire periods: Iran would initiate the truce, followed by Israel 12 hours later. By the 24th hour, Trump claimed, the conflict would be “officially ended,” preventing a broader war that “could have destroyed the entire Middle East.” He congratulated both nations for their “stamina, courage, and intelligence” in reaching the deal.

A senior Iranian official confirmed to Reuters that Tehran had agreed to a U.S.-proposed, Qatar-mediated ceasefire, with negotiations facilitated by Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Trump reportedly spoke with Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to secure Israel’s commitment, while Vice President JD Vance coordinated details with Qatari officials. A senior White House official told Reuters that Israel agreed to the truce on the condition that Iran refrains from further attacks.

However, the Associated Press (AP) reported that neither Israel nor Iran immediately acknowledged the ceasefire, and heavy Israeli strikes continued in Tehran and other Iranian cities early Tuesday, casting doubt on the deal’s implementation. The AP noted that Trump’s announcement followed Iran’s retaliatory missile attack on the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which caused no casualties but was in response to U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.

Cross-referencing reports, Reuters indicated that three Israeli officials had signaled a desire to conclude their campaign in Iran soon, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructing ministers to avoid public comments. Meanwhile, the AP highlighted skepticism from a senior Iranian official who, shortly before Trump’s announcement, told CNN that Iran had not received any ceasefire proposal and accused the U.S. and Israel of “deception” to justify ongoing attacks.

The conflict began on June 13, 2025, when Israel launched what it called a “preemptive” airstrike campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, killing at least 950 people, including civilians, according to Human Rights Activists cited by the AP. Iran retaliated with missile strikes on Israeli cities, killing at least 24, per Israeli officials. The U.S. entered the fray on June 21, striking Iran’s nuclear sites, which Trump claimed caused “monumental damage,” though the UN’s nuclear chief, Rafael Grossi, stated that the extent of damage to Iran’s Fordow facility remains unclear.

Analysts expressed cautious optimism but warned of challenges. Middle East analyst Omar Rahman, speaking to Al Jazeera, noted the absence of clear details on whether negotiations would follow the ceasefire and suggested that a major Israeli strike, such as an assassination attempt on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, could derail the agreement.

Global markets responded positively, with oil prices dropping 4% to just over $68 per barrel and Asian stock indices rising, reflecting hopes of de-escalation. However, without official confirmation from Israel or Iran, the ceasefire’s durability remains uncertain.

The White House reposted Trump’s announcement, accompanied by a photo of the president holding a hat proclaiming, “Trump was right about everything.” Trump told NBC News he expects the ceasefire to last “forever,” but ongoing Israeli operations and Iran’s earlier denials suggest the path to peace is far from assured.

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