President Trump has announced a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran that will begin at midnight.
“This is the end of the war. It is a great thing for Israel and the world,” Trump told Axios on Monday evening.
The ceasefire will end a 12-day war between Israel and Iran that led to the destruction of significant parts of Iran’s nuclear program by Israel and the United States.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social account that the ceasefire begins at 12 a.m. ET. Until then, Israel and Iran will complete their final military missions that are in progress, he said.
Trump said Iran will begin the ceasefire for 12 hours, and then Israel will begin. After 24 hours, an official end to the war will be announced.
Trump said that during each 12-hour ceasefire, the other side “will remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL.”
“CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE,” Trump wrote.
“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,'” he added.
Trump said the war could have gone on for years, “and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will!”
On Monday, Iran launched multiple missiles against an American military base in Qatar in retaliation for the U.S. strike on its nuclear facilities over the weekend.
No casualties were reported, and both Qatar and the Trump administration were made aware of the Iranian attack ahead of the time, sources told Axios.
Three hours after the attack, Trump issued a statement thanking Iran for giving “early notice” for what he called a “very weak” missile attack.
Trump’s post suggested he does not intend to retaliate and draw the U.S. further into the conflict.
“Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same,” he said.
The ceasefire was agreed upon through Qatari and American mediation between Israel and Iran, according to sources familiar with the matter.
After the attack Iran sent a message to the White House through Qatar that it will not conduct any further attacks, a source with direct knowledge told Axios.
The White House sent a message back via the Qataris stressing that it will not retaliate to the Iranian attack and that the U.S. is ready to resume negotiations with Iran.
Afterward, talks continued between the U.S. and Israel and between Qatar and Iran to agree on the terms of the ceasefire and the time it would begin.
During the mediation efforts on Monday, Trump spoke to both Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Emir of Qatar Tamim al-Thani. Vice President Vance spoke to Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani.
