President Trump on Monday announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, saying it will go into effect by midnight in Washington.
“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!” he wrote on social media.
“Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World,” he wrote.
He said each side will remain peaceful and respectful while each side finishes its business.
“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,’” the president wrote.
He said this war could have “destroyed the entire Middle East” if it had continued.
Officials from Israel and Iran have not yet confirmed the ceasefire.
The president’s ceasefire announcement came just hours after Iran launched attacks on the U.S. military base in Qatar. The missiles were intercepted, and no one was hurt.
Mr. Trump confirmed the strikes, saying Iran launched 14 missiles — 13 were struck down and one was “set free” because it was heading in a “nonthreatening direction.” He called the strikes “a very weak response” and said he hopes Iran has “gotten it all out of their ‘system.’”
He also thanked Iran for giving “early notice” of the strikes to avoid human casualties.
“Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same,” he wrote.
He followed with another post thanking Qatar for “seeking Peace for the Region.”
And another, in all caps, “Congratulations world, it’s time for peace!”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican, called it a “really remarkable achievement.”
“President Trump deserves all the credit,” he said. “This is what peace through strength looks like. We haven’t seen this in a while, and it’s really a big sigh of relief here on Capitol Hill.”
