Egypt Daily News – Former President Donald Trump declared Monday evening that Israel and Iran have reached a ceasefire agreement set to begin within six hours, a surprising development amid escalating military tensions in the Middle East. While neither Tehran nor Jerusalem has officially confirmed the deal, Trump took to Truth Social to announce what he described as a “Complete and Total CEASEFIRE.”
The ceasefire, according to Trump, will roll out in two phases: Iran is set to halt hostilities first, followed by Israel 12 hours later. If both phases are respected, the conflict described by Vice President JD Vance as a “12-day war”, will officially be considered over within 24 hours.
“It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE… for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED,” Trump wrote. The former president hailed the agreement as a pathway to peace, calling on both nations to embrace “Peace and Harmony in the Region.”
The announcement came just two days after Trump ordered strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, marking the most dramatic escalation between the U.S. and Iran since he left office. Iran retaliated with missile strikes on the Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar, which houses U.S. forces. Trump claimed the U.S. “effectively countered” the attack and that no American personnel were harmed, crediting advance notice from Iran that allowed for evacuation.
“Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region,” Trump wrote, adding in a follow-up post, “CONGRATULATIONS WORLD, IT’S TIME FOR PEACE!”
Vice President Vance appeared on Fox News minutes after the ceasefire announcement, describing the diplomatic breakthrough as the culmination of ongoing negotiations.
“We were actually working on that just as I left the White House to come over here,” Vance told host Bret Baier. “That’s good news, that the president was able to get that across the finish line.”
Vance defended the administration’s decision to launch preemptive strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, calling it a “mission success.”
“The president, without knock on wood, having a single American casualty, obliterated the Iranian nuclear program,” he said, tapping the studio desk for emphasis.
The vice president reiterated that the U.S. goal was to eliminate Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities, and that the campaign had “reset the region.” He also addressed Trump’s earlier comments about regime change in Iran, clarifying that the administration was not dictating Iran’s political future.
“If the Iranian people want to do something about their own leadership, that’s up to them,” Vance said. “The ball is in their hands.”
World leaders responded swiftly to Iran’s missile strikes on Qatar, condemning the attack and expressing solidarity with the Gulf state. Qatar has not ruled out a military response of its own, although its government has called for de-escalation.
The ceasefire announcement remains unconfirmed by either Israeli or Iranian officials, and skepticism persists about whether the fragile truce will hold. Still, Trump and his administration are touting it as a major diplomatic victory—and one they hope will bring an end to yet another violent chapter in the Middle East.
