UPDATE - Trump announces that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire

ADDS MORE REMARKS FROM US PRESIDENT; CHANGES LEDE

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.

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.