Ceasefire! Is the 12-Day War Between Israel and Iran Officially Over?

Israel and Iran Agree to Ceasefire: Trump Announces End to '12 Day War'

In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald Trump announced on Monday evening that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire, potentially bringing an end to nearly two weeks of escalating tensions and air assaults between the two nations.

Trump revealed the details of the agreement via a post on Truth Social, outlining a plan that involves two distinct 12-hour ceasefire periods.

Here's a breakdown of the proposed ceasefire:

• Phase 1: Iran initiates a 12-hour ceasefire, commencing around 12 a.m. EDT, following the completion of their "final missions."
• Phase 2: Israel will then follow suit with its own 12-hour ceasefire.

According to Trump, if the ceasefire holds for a total of 24 hours, the conflict, which he has dubbed "THE 12 DAY WAR," will be officially declared over.
"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 wrote.

As of now, neither Israeli nor Iranian officials have publicly commented on Trump's announcement. The silence from both sides leaves some uncertainty surrounding the agreement's legitimacy and implementation.

However, reports indicate that in the hours leading up to the supposed ceasefire, tensions remained high. Israel claimed that Iran launched a barrage of missiles, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least three people.

Adding to the complexity, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had earlier denied the existence of a ceasefire agreement.
He stated that if Israel ceased its strikes by 4 a.m. Tehran time (8:30 p.m. EDT), Iran would not continue its response.
Araghchi also mentioned that a final decision regarding the cessation of military operations would be made later and expressed gratitude to the Iranian armed forces.

This announcement comes just two days after the United States entered the conflict, launching strikes on three Iranian nuclear targets.

The conflict began on June 12 when Israel initiated a series of strikes against Iran, targeting military installations and the country's nuclear program. Israel justified these actions as a "preemptive" strike, citing intelligence that suggested Iran was nearing the development of a nuclear weapon – allegations vehemently denied by Iran.

Earlier on Monday, Iran reportedly fired missiles targeting Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, a major U.S. military base in the region. While this raised concerns about potential escalation, a U.S. official stated that the U.S. successfully intercepted the missiles with assistance from Qatar. Trump, while initially calling the response "very weak," later adopted a more de-escalatory tone. One source described Iran's move as a "failed retaliation."

The world watches with bated breath as this ceasefire agreement unfolds. Whether it will hold and bring an end to the recent hostilities remains to be seen. A successful resolution would represent a significant step towards stability in the Middle East, a region too often marked by conflict and uncertainty. The coming days will be critical in determining the future of Israeli-Iranian relations and the broader geopolitical landscape.

Tags: Israel, Iran, Ceasefire, Netanyahu, Khamenei, Trump, 12 Day War, Middle East, Conflict, Diplomacy

Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/israel-iran-agree-ceasefire-bring-end-12-day/story?id=123137697