Trump made a surprise announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran on Monday, declaring the “12-Day War” over. Though the agreement to halt hostilities is still only a ceasefire, Trump made clear in a call with NBC News that he expected it to be permanent.
“I think the ceasefire is unlimited. It’s going to go forever,” he told the outlet.
Not only that, Trump said he believes the ceasefire will mark an end to the long-standing Israel-Iran conflict, saying he doesn’t believe the two “will ever be shooting at each other again.”
“It’s a great day for America. It’s a great day for the Middle East. I’m very happy to have been able to get the job done,” he said. “A lot of people were dying, and it was only going to get worse. It would have brought the whole Middle East down.”
A diplomat briefed on the ceasefire talks told NBC News that the deal was brokered by Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who coordinated with Qatari officials to get Israel and Iran to the table.
The suddenness of Trump’s announcement, made in a post on Truth Social, led to some confusion, especially as neither Jerusalem nor Tehran immediately announced likewise. CNN quoted one Iranian official as saying no ceasefire agreement had been reached.
A senior Iranian official later confirmed to Reuters that a ceasefire had been reached.
Israeli Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli appeared to confirm the ceasefire in a post on X, thanking Trump “for making a bold decision that will be remembered in the annals of history as a chapter of faith, courage, and moral clarity.”
Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire was reposted by most of his administration and praised individually, including by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who some reports speculated was on Trump’s bad side after he publicly rebuked her previous assessment that Iran wasn’t close to obtaining nuclear weapons.
“Only President Trump could have achieved this historic ceasefire agreement that brings us closer to peace. It was a herculean effort that deserves the thanks of all the people of Israel, Iran, Middle East, America—the entire world. Congratulations and thank you, @realDonaldTrump,” she said in a post on X.
Trump said the ceasefire would begin shortly after his announcement.
TRUMP ANNOUNCES CEASEFIRE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND IRAN TO CONCLUDE ’12 DAY WAR’
“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. During each CEASEFIRE, the other side will remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL,” he said.
“This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will! God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!” Trump concluded.
