UNITED States (US) President Donald Trump announced Monday, June 23, 2025, that Israel and Iran reached a formal agreement to implement a complete and total ceasefire, marking what he called the end of the “12-Day War.”
In a post on his Truth Social platform at 6:02 p.m. Monday (US time), Trump congratulated both nations. He revealed the ceasefire would begin in approximately six hours, following the completion of each side’s ongoing
military operations.
The ceasefire will initially last 12 hours, during which the opposing side will maintain a posture of “peace and respect,” said Trump.
According to Trump, Iran will initiate the ceasefire, followed by Israel 12 hours later, culminating in an official declaration of the war’s end at the 24-hour mark.
“On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will,” Trump wrote, “I would like to congratulate both countries... on having the stamina, courage and intelligence to end what should be called ‘THE 12-DAY WAR.’” Israel began its attacks on Iran last June 13, launching surprise strikes on key Iranian military and nuclear facilities. The US bombed Iran’s three key nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan on
June 21.
As to Iran’s alleged “severe violation” of the ceasefire, the Israeli military said it would “respond with force.” Israeli Defense Forces Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir made the statement not long after the truce was announced. Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting denied reports claiming a missile was launched from Iran after the ceasefire “was imposed.”
Early Tuesday, June 24, Israel’s military said sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran.
Iranian state media, Press TV, reported the ceasefire began following waves of Iranian attacks on Israel. Israel’s skies were closed to planes until further notice, according to Israeli airport authorities.
The Iranian missile attacks on Tuesday reportedly killed at least five people and injured others. Israel also continued airstrikes on Iranian targets until shortly before the ceasefire took full effect.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had earlier suggested Iran would halt further retaliation if Israeli attacks stopped by 4 a.m. Tehran time Tuesday. Araqchi wrote on X that “the final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later.” This contradicted Trump’s announcement of a formal agreement.
Hours earlier, a senior Iranian official told CNN that Tehran had not received any formal ceasefire proposal from the US and saw no reason to halt hostilities. The official was quoted as saying, “At this very moment, the enemy is committing aggression against Iran, and Iran is on the verge of intensifying its retaliatory strikes, with no ear to listen to the lies of its enemies.”
The official added that remarks from US and Israeli leaders would be seen as a “deception” intended to justify further attacks on Iran.
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, for his part, expressed deep alarm over the conflict’s escalation, including Monday’s missile attack by Iran on a US military base in Qatar. A spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said Guterres repeatedly condemned any military escalation and urged all parties to stop fighting and uphold obligations under the UN Charter. / XINHUA