President Donald Trump has announced a phased ceasefire between Israel and Iran, set to begin at approximately 0400 GMT on Tuesday, which could bring an end to nearly two weeks of heightened violence in the region.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump detailed that the agreement involves a “complete and total ceasefire,” with Iran leading the halt in operations, to be followed by Israel 12 hours later.
This ceasefire is seen as a potential “official end” to what Trump referred to as “THE 12 DAY WAR.”
“Assuming everything goes as planned — and it will — I want to congratulate both countries, Israel and Iran, for their stamina, courage, and intelligence in ending what should rightly be considered ‘THE 12 DAY WAR,'” Trump stated.
The conflict ignited on June 13 when Israel conducted airstrikes targeting various Iranian military, civilian, and nuclear sites, including the Fordo underground enrichment facility. Iran retaliated with ballistic missile strikes on Israeli locations, escalating the conflict to the most direct military engagement seen between the two nations in decades.
Tensions escalated even further when the United States joined Israel’s military efforts on June 22, targeting three Iranian nuclear facilities, which led to an Iranian missile strike on the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
Even amid this intense escalation, diplomatic channels — reportedly involving mediators from Oman and Switzerland — have been working tirelessly to establish a ceasefire.
While Trump did not specify the mediators, he praised both nations for their agreement to what he termed a “measured wind-down” of active military operations. The structured timeline, with Iran commencing the ceasefire followed by Israel, appears intended to allow both sides to conclude ongoing military actions and avoid sudden disruptions.
The recent hostilities have resulted in hundreds of casualties in Iran and dozens in Israel, with civilians in both countries seeking refuge from the ongoing airstrikes and missile assaults.
The violence has heightened fears of a wider regional conflict. Iran has conducted funerals for both civilians and members of its Revolutionary Guard who lost their lives in the Israeli strikes, while Israel has enacted emergency protocols nationwide and launched its most extensive strikes on Iranian territory in recent memory.
