Trump says Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire

U.S. President Donald Trump took to social media to announce that Israel and Iran had agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire” following Iran’s limited missile attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar. The attack was in retaliation for the American bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that the 24-hour phased-in ceasefire would commence at midnight Tuesday eastern time, allowing both countries six hours to wrap up their ongoing missions. This ceasefire, according to Trump, would mark the “Official END” to the conflict.

While the Israeli military refrained from commenting on Trump’s announcement, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A senior Iranian official confirmed to Reuters that Tehran had accepted the U.S.-proposed ceasefire, mediated by Qatar.

Iran’s UN mission chose not to comment on Trump’s ceasefire post, while the Israeli mission stated that they had no immediate response. On Iranian state television, an anchor referred to the ceasefire as “Trump-claimed,” without confirming Iran’s acceptance.

Reports from The Times of Israel revealed that the Israeli military issued a warning in Farsi urging residents of District 6 and the Mehran neighborhood to evacuate due to anticipated military activity. In a similar fashion, Iran warned residents of Ramat Gan that they would target military infrastructure in the area.

Trump dismissed Iran’s attack on the U.S. airbase as a “very weak response,” emphasizing that it was a sign of Iran’s willingness to de-escalate tensions in the region. Qatar condemned the attack on Al Udeid airbase, labeling it a violation of its sovereignty and international law. Qatar reported intercepting all but one missile, with unclear information on the extent of damage caused by the remaining missile.

Iran claimed that the number of missiles launched matched the bombs dropped by the U.S. on their nuclear sites over the weekend. They justified targeting the airbase as it was situated away from populated areas, signaling a desire to avoid further escalation with the United States.

Trump expressed gratitude to Iran for providing early notice of the retaliation, hoping that this moment would lead to a de-escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict. He encouraged both countries to pursue peace and harmony in the region.

The developments surrounding the ceasefire offer a glimmer of hope for stability in the volatile region, with diplomatic efforts and communication playing a crucial role in averting further hostilities.