Historic Breakthrough: Israel and Iran Agree to Ceasefire, Ending 12-Day Conflict

In a stunning turn of events, a comprehensive ceasefire agreement has been reached between Israel and Iran, bringing an immediate halt to the intense 12-day conflict that had gripped the Middle East. The breakthrough, announced by President Donald Trump, comes just hours after Iranian missiles targeted American air bases in Qatar and Iraq, and was facilitated by crucial Qatari mediation.

The agreement, hailed as a testament to diplomacy, is set to unfold in carefully orchestrated stages. The cessation of hostilities will begin with Iran initiating a truce within six hours of the announcement, followed by Israel joining the ceasefire 12 hours later. A full and formal end to what Trump termed "The 12-Day War" is expected to be observed globally after a 24-hour period.

Speaking from his Truth Social platform, a visibly optimistic Trump lauded the development: "CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE... at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!" He further detailed the phased implementation, emphasizing that during each stage of the ceasefire, the opposing side would "remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL."

The former President praised both nations for their resolve in stepping back from the precipice of a potentially devastating, prolonged conflict. "This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn't, and never will!" he stated, commending the "Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence" displayed by the leaders of Israel and Iran. His announcement was prefaced by an earlier social media post calling for "global peace."

Confirming the significant progress, a senior Iranian official, speaking to Reuters, affirmed Tehran's agreement to the US-proposed, Qatar-mediated ceasefire. The official highlighted the pivotal role played by Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, whose direct engagement with Iranian officials was instrumental in securing the deal.

Sources familiar with the negotiations also revealed that Iran had provided prior notification to the U.S. before its missile strikes on American bases, a move that likely contributed to the reported absence of casualties. The diplomatic push began when Trump reached out to Qatar's Emir, conveying Israel's willingness for a ceasefire and seeking Doha's assistance in bringing Iran to the table. Qatar, leveraging its strong ties with Tehran, successfully facilitated the urgent communication that paved the way for this historic agreement.

This ceasefire marks a critical de-escalation after a period of heightened tensions, which saw U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites over the past weekend. Trump had previously downplayed Iran's missile response as "very weak," noting the lack of American casualties and interpreting it as a sign of Iran's desire to de-escalate. The world now watches with cautious optimism as this meticulously brokered peace begins to take hold.