Israel Iran Conflict: US President Donald Trump announces ceasefire in the Middle East conflict

New Delhi (India) June 24: On Monday, US President Donald Trump declared that Iran and its partner Israel had reached an agreement to a "complete and total ceasefire," which would be implemented gradually over the course of 24 hours.

The US leader claims that the Islamic Republic will initiate a ceasefire, followed by the Jewish State twelve hours later, and eventually "an official end to the 12-day War will be saluted by the world."

Trump posted, "CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! 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!" on his Truth Social platform.

He also added, "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." This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn't, and never will!”

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's initial response to Donald Trump's announcement of a "total ceasefire" was that Tehran is not one that "surrenders," suggesting that Iran was not the first to do so. His involvement with the ceasefire negotiations between Iran and Israel is still unknown.

He said, “Those who know the Iranian people and their history know that the Iranian nation isn’t a nation that surrenders.”

Iran's consent to the ceasefire was reportedly negotiated by Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the prime minister of Qatar.

The prime minister of Qatar called Iranian officials in an attempt to persuade Tehran to accept the US ceasefire plan. The phone contact came after Iran retaliated for an American attack on its territory by attacking a U.S. airfield in Qatar.

The contact was made after Donald Trump informed the emir of Qatar that Israel had accepted the ceasefire and requested Doha's help in convincing Tehran to do the same. 

According to a White House official, Israel has consented to a ceasefire as long as Iran refrains from attacking. But neither Iran nor Israel have mentioned a potential end to the hostilities.

On June 13, Israel launched a huge bombing known as "Operation Rising Lion" on Iranian military and nuclear targets, initiating the start of the conflict. 'Operation True Promise 3' was a massive drone and missile operation launched by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in retaliation, aimed at Israeli fighter jet fuel production facilities and energy supply centres.

The US launched precision airstrikes on three important Iranian nuclear facilities early Sunday morning as part of "Operation Midnight Hammer," which further heightened tensions.

Iran launched several missiles in retaliation at US military facilities in Iraq and Qatar, including the biggest US military facility in the area, Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

Aadrika Tayal