President Donald Trump announced Monday evening a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Iran to end the war between them after twelve days of strikes from both sides.
Trump said the cease-fire will officially begin in a matter of hours as Israel and Iran wind down their operations, marking the end of a war that broke out earlier this month and culminated in U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.
“It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!), for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World,” the president added.
“During each CEASEFIRE, the other side will remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL. 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 suggested that, absent the cease-fire, the war could have gone on for years and destabilized the Middle East. He did not specify the terms of the cease-fire agreement.
Earlier Monday, Iran launched missiles at a U.S. military base in Qatar that did not cause any casualties or damage. Trump said the Iranians notified the U.S. before the attack and all but one missile was intercepted. After the Iranian strikes, Trump called for peace instead of further escalation.
The U.S. launched strikes on Iranian nuclear-enrichment facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan over the weekend, resulting in significant damage. During an address Saturday night, Trump said Iran’s nuclear facilities were “obliterated” by the strikes and he called for peace in the Middle East.
On Sunday, the Pentagon said the strikes caused “severe damage and destruction” to the Iranian nuclear facilities, but it was too early to fully assess the state of Iran’s nuclear capabilities.