"12‑Day War Ends: Trump Declares Israel‑Iran Ceasefire After U.S. Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites"
1. Breaking News: Phased Ceasefire Declared
On June 23, former President Trump announced via Truth Social that Israel and Iran have agreed to a full ceasefire in what he called the "12‑Day War"—set to begin at midnight Eastern Time, with Iran ceasing first and Israel following 12 hours later.
Key quotes from Trump included:
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“This is a war that could have gone on for years...but it didn’t, and never will.”
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“THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!”
2. Sequence of Events
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U.S. strikes: On June 21, the U.S. targeted major Iranian nuclear sites—including Natanz and Fordo “decapitating the country’s nuclear program”.
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Iranian retaliation: Tehran launched missiles and drones toward Israel and a U.S. airbase in Qatar.
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Diplomatic push: Trump’s announcement followed intense diplomacy—he and VP Vance coordinated with Israeli PM Netanyahu and negotiators (Rubio, Vance, Witkoff), with Qatar facilitating.
3. Terms & Uncertainties
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Unnamed details: Neither side has publicly shared specific terms of the ceasefire nor confirmed it.
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Phased implementation: Iran leads the truce, followed 12 hours later by Israel.
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Conditional cessation: Israeli acceptance depended on a halt to Iranian attacks; Iran’s FM Araghchi echoed similar conditionality.
4. Geopolitical Implications
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U.S. role escalates: The U.S. shift from non‑intervention to direct strikes shows a strategic pivot .
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Diplomacy-or-war dynamic: Trump’s move reinforces his dual-use of diplomacy backed by force—mirroring his earlier Iran negotiations stance.
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Regional influence: Qatar's mediation underlines its growing diplomatic significance in Middle East peace efforts.
5. Next Steps & Watchpoints
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Adherence to the ceasefire: Monitoring whether Israel and Iran truly honor the phased timeline.
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Nuclear diplomacy: Whether this pause leads to revived negotiations on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
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Global reaction: Watch for statements from the UN, EU, and regional actors like Saudi Arabia reacting to Trump’s unilateral announcement.
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