US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire, hours after Iran launched six missiles targeting Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
Qatar, which hosts Al Udeid, a key US military base in the Middle East, is also home to Qatar Airways, one of the region’s largest airlines. The attack came in retaliation for a series of American airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, intensifying tensions across the Middle East.
In a post on X, Trump announced: “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!
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. 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.’ 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!”
However, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected the ceasefire announcement, stating that Iran would not succumb to pressure or threats. “Those who know the Iranian people and their history understand that the Iranian nation is not one that surrenders,” he said. “We didn’t harm anyone, and we will not accept any harassment from anyone under any circumstances. We will not submit to aggression. This is the logic of the Iranian nation.”
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he had agreed to the US proposal for a bilateral ceasefire. He stated that Israel had “achieved all objectives” in the conflict and neutralised the “dual existential threat” posed by Iran’s nuclear program and missile capabilities.
Following the hostilities, Qatar announced the closure of its airspace after Iran threatened further retaliation for the US airstrikes at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. Bahrain also announced a temporary suspension of air traffic following the missile attack on the US base in Qatar.
