UPDATE 2 - Israel and Iran agree to a ceasefire, Trump announces

ADDS MORE REMARKS FROM US PRESIDENT, DETAILS; CHANGES HEADLINE

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Donald Trump announced Monday that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire amid the rising conflict in the Middle East.

"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," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

Trump said that 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'," he added.

"This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will!" Trump said.

Trump later took to Truth Social and said Israel and Iran reached out "almost simultaneously" to him signaling “PEACE!”

"I knew the time was NOW. The World, and the Middle East, are the real WINNERS! Both Nations will see tremendous LOVE, PEACE, AND PROSPERITY in their futures," he added.

Describing the agreement as a monumental win with transformative potential, he said: "They have so much to gain, and yet, so much to lose if they stray from the road of RIGHTEOUSNESS & TRUTH. The future for Israel & Iran is UNLIMITED, & filled with great PROMISE. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH!"

The details still remain unclear. Both Iran and Israel have yet to officially confirm a mutual agreement.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said early Tuesday that as of now, there is "no agreement" on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations between Iran and Israel.

"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," Araghchi said on X.

Iran launched a barrage of missiles at the US military’s Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Monday, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions following the US targeting of three Iranian nuclear sites Sunday.

The US attacks were the latest escalation in a US-backed Israeli military assault on Iran since June 13, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory attacks on Israel.