Donald Trump said Israel and Iran had agreed a ceasefire, heralding a possible end to more than a week of conflict between the two countries that had threatened to engulf the US in another Middle Eastern war.
The US president said the two sides would end what he titled the “12 day war”. He congratulated both sides, saying both sides “have so much to gain, and yet, so much to lose”.
“It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Iran’s state television later announced a ceasefire. “The successful missile operation by the [ Revolutionary] Guards, in response to US aggression, along with the exemplary resistance and unity of our dear people, imposed a ceasefire on the enemy,” the broadcast said, claiming that Trump had called for a halt in hostilities “in a begging manner”.
There was no confirmation of any ceasefire from Israel.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi earlier said via social media that Iran would not continue its “military response” if Israel halted its strikes.
He said the Islamic Republic’s armed forces had “responded to any attack by the enemy until the very last minute”.
Israel said an Iranian missile strike killed three people in the southern city of Be’er Sheba. It was unclear when the strike was conducted.
Trump’s announcement came after Tehran launched missiles against America’s biggest air base in the Middle East in response to the US strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities at the weekend.
The president had thanked Iran for giving the US advance notice of the missiles against the Al Udeid air base near Doha. There were no casualties.
Oil prices fell again on Tuesday. Brent crude, the international benchmark, dropped 2.5 per cent to $69.68 a barrel.
