Updated June 23, 2025 at 10:19 PM EDT
Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, President Trump announced a potential breakthrough with claims of an upcoming ceasefire between Israel and Iran. This news follows a sequence of escalating military actions, including Iran’s missile assault on a U.S. base in Qatar, which was a counteraction to a recent American offensive on Iranian nuclear sites.
In a social media statement, President Trump declared that Israel and Iran had consented to a phased ceasefire plan aimed at concluding their ongoing conflict. He detailed, “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! 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.”
Contrasting Trump’s announcement, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Sayed Abbas Araghachi, remarked on social media that no ceasefire agreement had been finalized. His post stated, “As of now, there is NO ‘agreement’ on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations. However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 am Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response afterwards. The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later.” He later confirmed that hostilities persisted until 4 AM Iran time.
While Israel has not issued any statements, Vice President JD Vance expressed a desire for a “long-term settlement” between the nations during an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier. Vance commented on Iran’s military prowess, stating, “What the Iranians have showed through their support of terror networks, through their now-failed effort to build a nuclear weapon, is that they’re just not very good at war. And I think the president really hit the reset button and said, ‘Look, let’s actually produce long-term peace for the region.”
Earlier on Monday, Iran’s state news agency Tasnim reported missile strikes targeting U.S. bases in Qatar and Iraq, with Al Jazeera witnessing missiles over Qatar, home to the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base. A U.S. defense official confirmed that “al Udeid Air Base was attacked by short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles originating from Iran today,” but noted no U.S. casualties.
In response, Qatar’s air defenses intercepted the missiles. President Trump mentioned receiving advance notice of the attacks from Iran, allowing for precautionary measures. “Iran has officially responded to our Obliteration of their Nuclear Facilities with a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered,” Trump posted on social media. He also expressed gratitude to Iran for the warning and thanked the Emir of Qatar, hoping for future peace in the region.
The U.S. Embassy had urged American citizens in Qatar to shelter in place amid the missile threat, which followed a U.S. B-2 bomber strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities over the weekend.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry condemned the Iranian attack, with spokesperson Majed Al Ansari stating on X, “We express the State of Qatar’s strong condemnation of the attack on Al Udeid Air Base by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, and consider it a flagrant violation of the State of Qatar’s sovereignty and airspace, as well as of international law and the United Nations Charter. We affirm that the State of Qatar reserves the right to respond directly in a manner proportional to the nature and scale of this blatant aggression and in accordance with international law.” The base had been evacuated before the attack.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, through spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, expressed grave concern over the situation. “The Secretary-General is deeply alarmed by the further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. From the outset of the crisis, the Secretary-General has repeatedly condemned any military escalation in this conflict, including today’s attack by Iran on the territory of Qatar. He further reiterates his call on all parties to stop fighting.”
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