Trump's surprise ceasefire stuns Israel, Iran, and Allies
Donald Trump’s recent declaration of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran left many confused — including both nations involved and even officials from his own administration. The announcement, made on Truth Social, came while missile strikes were still being exchanged between the two countries.
Trump wrote that both sides had come to him "almost simultaneously" asking for peace, and he declared what he called the end of the “12-day war.” He detailed a timeline: Iran would begin the ceasefire first, followed by Israel twelve hours later, and by the 24th hour, the conflict would officially end.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted shortly after that no agreement had been reached. Three hours later, Iran issued a more measured statement saying its military operations had stopped, indicating a sudden change. Israel also took time to respond, later confirming its agreement while stating that it had achieved key goals — including eliminating Iran’s nuclear and missile threats.
Trump claimed that the U.S. provided Iran a discreet way out of further escalation following recent airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. He publicly thanked Iran for giving early warning about its missile strikes on the Al Udeid airbase in Qatar — the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East — which reportedly prevented casualties.
"I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost," Trump said, adding, "Hopefully, there will be no further hate."
Despite the conflict’s intensity, Trump suggested that Iran wanted to project strength while avoiding a broader war.
Trump’s pattern of unilateral peace declarationsThis isn't the first time Trump has announced a ceasefire without broader consensus. A month earlier, he similarly declared he had brokered a truce between India and Pakistan. That claim was immediately denied by New Delhi, which maintained the ceasefire was arranged bilaterally without U.S. mediation.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly told Trump that no discussions regarding trade or war mediation had taken place with the U.S. during Operation Sindoor. Still, Trump continued to claim credit publicly and even cited the event during international forums.
Pakistan, in contrast, praised Trump’s involvement and nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, calling his actions "decisive diplomacy." Despite mixed results, Trump has continued to position himself as a global peacemaker, referencing past efforts in Gaza and Ukraine — both of which yielded limited success.
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