Ceasefire Declared as Iran-Israel Clashes Halt; Trump Labels It ‘12-Day War’ End

Ceasefire Declared After 12-Day Iran-Israel Conflict; Trump Claims Credit Amid Confusion and Continued Strikes.

Twelve days of intensifying hostilities between Iran and Israel appeared to come to an uneasy pause on Tuesday, after a series of conflicting statements, last-minute missile attacks, and a surprise ceasefire announcement from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Trump Announces Truce, Tehran Pushes Back — Then Yields
In a late-night post on Truth Social, President Trump declared a “complete and total ceasefire” between Iran and Israel, claiming the war was officially over. He referred to the brief conflict as the “12-Day War,” and said hostilities would wind down within 24 hours, with Iran halting operations first, followed by Israel.

But within an hour, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the announcement, stating, “There is NO agreement on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations.” He maintained that Iran would only stop its attacks if Israel ended what Tehran called “illegal aggression” by 4:00 a.m. local time.

Despite the initial rejection, Iran’s tone shifted hours later. After what appeared to be a final wave of missile attacks, Araghchi confirmed that operations had ceased. “Military operations to punish Israel for its aggression continued until 4 a.m.,” he posted, hailing the Iranian Armed Forces while hinting that no further strikes were planned — if Israel reciprocated.

Missiles Fly Even After Ceasefire Declaration
Despite Trump’s announcement, Iranian missiles continued to land in Israel overnight. Tel Aviv reported at least three casualties from strikes launched after the proposed ceasefire had been declared. Israeli officials accused Iran of violating the spirit — if not the letter — of the truce.

Meanwhile, Iranian forces also targeted U.S. bases in Iraq and Qatar. Trump dismissed these attacks as “expected” and “very weak,” claiming 13 of 14 missiles were intercepted, with the remaining one causing no serious damage.

Ceasefire Brokered by Qatar, Backed by U.S.
According to diplomatic sources cited by Reuters, the ceasefire was brokered by Qatar following U.S. pressure. The breakthrough came after both Iran and Israel reportedly signaled readiness to escalate unless a diplomatic solution was found. The final deal allowed both nations to complete what Trump called their “final missions” before halting fire.

Trump’s Victory Lap
In his announcement, Trump praised both nations for “their stamina, courage, and intelligence” in ending the conflict. He framed the ceasefire as a major foreign policy win, claiming to have prevented what could have become a “long, devastating war in the Middle East.”

“This is a war that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East — but it didn’t, and never will,” Trump said, concluding with:
“God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!”

Khamenei’s Defiance
Despite Tehran’s eventual de-escalation, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remained defiant. Sharing a photo of a burning U.S. flag and war-torn buildings, he posted:
“We didn’t harm anyone. But we will not accept harassment from anyone, under any circumstances. This is the logic of the Iranian nation.”