Former President Donald Trump announced Monday evening via his social media platform, Truth Social, that Israel and Iran had reached a ceasefire agreement intended to bring an end to nearly two weeks of intensifying military conflict. According to Trump, the ceasefire would unfold in two 12-hour phases, starting at midnight Eastern Daylight Time, with Iran halting its operations first. This first phase would occur “when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions,” Trump wrote. The second phase, according to his post, would involve Israel initiating its own 12-hour halt in hostilities. After a full 24-hour period of mutual ceasefire, Trump claimed the war would be officially over.
“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 stated in his post.
Despite the former president’s assertion, there was no immediate confirmation or comment from either Israeli or Iranian officials. In fact, within hours of the supposed ceasefire taking effect, Israel reported that Iran had launched a series of missiles, killing at least three people. This raised immediate doubts about the implementation or effectiveness of the agreement as described by Trump.
Earlier in the day, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi had rejected claims of a ceasefire in a post of his own. While he denied that any formal agreement had been reached, he added that if Israel ceased its strikes by 4 a.m.. Tehran time (8:30 p.m. EDT), “we have no intention to continue our response afterwards.” Araghchi emphasized that a final decision regarding the end of military operations would be determined at a later time and expressed gratitude to Iranian forces who, he said, had “responded to any attack by the enemy until the very last minute.”
The ceasefire claim came just two days after the United States became militarily involved in the conflict, striking three Iranian nuclear-related targets in coordination with Israel. The war itself began on June 12 when Israel launched a wave of strikes on Iranian territory, targeting dozens of sites, including elements of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Israel defended its actions as a “preemptive” operation, citing intelligence it claimed showed Iran had made significant progress toward acquiring a nuclear weapon—an accusation Tehran rejected outright.
Tensions escalated further on Monday when Iran launched missiles at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest U.S. military base in the region. The move stoked fears of a broader conflict involving the United States. However, a U.S. official told ABC News that the missiles were intercepted, thanks to help from Qatar. Trump criticized Iran’s actions but downplayed their impact, calling the attack “very weak.” A source later described Iran’s strike as a “failed retaliation,” signaling that the immediate danger of escalation might be easing despite the intense flare-up.
What Comes Next?
While Trump’s announcement signaled hope for a de-escalation, the lack of official confirmation from the governments of Israel and Iran leaves the situation uncertain. The continued hostilities and mixed messaging from Iranian leadership underscore the fragile nature of the proposed truce. With no formal ceasefire acknowledged by either side at the time of the announcement, the reality on the ground may remain volatile despite Trump’s optimistic declaration of an end to what he dubbed the “12 Day War.”
