According to US President Donald Trump, Israel and Iran have agreed to a phased ceasefire that should lead to an end to the war. Trump wrote on his online service Truth Social on Monday (local time) that the ceasefire should begin around midnight US Eastern Time (6:00 a.m. CEST). Iran will first silence its weapons, followed by Israel, until an end to the war is achieved after 24 hours. There was no immediate confirmation from Israel or Iran.
Israel and Iran have agreed to a "complete" ceasefire, Trump wrote. The ceasefire will take effect in phases. Iran will first cease all operations around 6:00 a.m. CEST, followed by Israel twelve hours later. After the 24-hour period, an "official end" to the war will be reached. Both sides have agreed to remain "peaceful and respectful" during each phase.
Trump expressed confidence that both sides would honor the agreement and that the "Twelve Day War" would finally be over. "This war could have lasted years and destroyed the entire Middle East," Trump continued. "But that is not the case and never will be."
On Monday night, several hours before the phased ceasefire was due to take effect, according to Trump, several powerful explosions were heard in the Iranian capital Tehran, according to AFP correspondents on the ground. Earlier, the Israeli army had called on residents of an area in central Tehran to evacuate.
Israel launched a major attack on Iran on June 13 and has since bombed nuclear facilities and military installations in the country. Iran has since retaliated by attacking Israel with missiles and drones.
The US entered the war on Suaturday night, attacking the three Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan with B-2 fighter jets and bunker-busting GBU-57 bombs. Iran responded by attacking the US Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Monday, just hours before Trump announced the ceasefire. According to Trump, no one was injured in the "very weak" retaliatory attack. Iran also informed the US of its plans well in advance.
Iran's National Security Council confirmed that the US air base was targeted "in response to the US's aggressive and brazen action against Iranian nuclear sites and facilities." The number of missiles launched corresponded to the number of bombs used by the US.
Elements of the Centcom military command and special forces are stationed at the US base in Al-Udeid in Qatar. According to Qatari sources, the soldiers were evacuated to safety following warnings.
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