New Delhi, June 24: US President Donald Trump has declared that a “complete and total” ceasefire between Israel and Iran will take effect within hours, following nearly two weeks of escalating hostilities, reports BBC and CNN.
The announcement, made on social media, claims both nations have agreed to halt military operations, with a full cessation of conflict expected “upon the 24th hour.” However, as of now, neither Iran nor Israel has officially confirmed that a ceasefire has been agreed.
The announcement follows an uptick in regional tensions. Just hours earlier, Iran fired missiles at the US-run Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in retaliation for American strikes on its nuclear sites over the weekend.
The Pentagon reported no casualties, and Qatari authorities confirmed that all incoming projectiles were intercepted. Doha strongly condemned the attack, calling it a “flagrant violation” of Qatari sovereignty.
President Trump described Iran’s retaliatory strikes as a “very weak” response and thanked Tehran for what he claimed was “early notice” of the attack.
According to US media reports including CNN citing unnamed officials, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani played a key mediating role in brokering the ceasefire. Qatar is believed to have engaged Iranian officials directly after missile attacks on US installations in the region.
Iranian state media has so far referred to Trump’s announcement merely as a “claim,” with no official statement from Tehran confirming any such agreement.
