Trump Hails Ceasefire Deal Between Israel and Iran, Declares “12 Day War” Over
In a dramatic turn, U.S. President Donald Trump announced today that Israel and Iran have reached a mutual agreement for a complete ceasefire, marking the formal end of what he termed the “12 Day War.” The announcement came via Truth Social on June 24, where Trump outlined the two-phase truce, beginning with Iran initiating a 12-hour ceasefire, followed by Israel completing its own 12-hour observance—culminating in a formal cessation of hostilities within 24 hours.
The mechanics of the truce
According to Trump’s statement, the ceasefire will begin after both nations complete what he described as their “in progress, final missions.” The language, while celebratory, also leaves open the question of what these final actions entail, especially in a war that had—by many accounts—reached a boiling point just days ago.
The 12-hour mutual ceasefire windows are staggered: first Iran, then Israel. If both sides adhere, the 24-hour period will culminate in what Trump calls a “salute by the world” to mark the war’s official end.
Notably, there’s no independent confirmation yet from Tehran or Jerusalem. Israeli state media has maintained silence, while Iran’s semi-official outlets like Tasnim News have yet to issue parallel announcements. That said, earlier in the week, reports from Al Jazeera and Haaretz hinted at quiet backchannel diplomacy possibly brokered through Qatar and Oman.
Trump’s framing of victory
The president was characteristically exuberant in tone, calling the truce a “miraculous” outcome and praising both nations for their “Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence.” He also credited the ceasefire with preventing a broader regional collapse: “This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will!”
This isn’t the first time Trump has sought to style himself as a global peacemaker. His administration previously touted the Abraham Accords—normalizing ties between Israel and several Arab states—as a template for defusing Middle East tensions. But in this case, there’s still much we don’t know about the negotiation mechanics or what concessions were traded.
A fragile quiet ahead?
Twelve days of airstrikes, missile exchanges, and cyberwarfare have left scars across the region. Civilian casualties, though still being assessed, are believed to be in the hundreds, according to Amnesty International. And while Trump has called this ceasefire “permanent,” few Middle East watchers are ready to make that bet.
To be honest, this reminds me of 2006—when Israel and Hezbollah entered a similar stopgap truce that held, more or less, until it didn’t. Peace, as always in the Middle East, feels more like an intermission than a finale.
Still, for now, the guns are going silent. That, in itself, is no small thing.
