Washington/Tehran/Jerusalem (National Times): In a dramatic turn of events, former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday that a full ceasefire agreement had been reached between Iran and Israel to end the ongoing 12-day war that has shaken the Middle East. However, Iran’s top officials swiftly denied any such agreement, casting doubt on Trump’s declaration.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote: “CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! 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)… A war that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will!”
He added that the ceasefire would be executed in phases — Iran initiating a 12-hour cessation of hostilities, followed by Israel, culminating in a formal end to the “12-Day War” within 24 hours. Trump praised both nations for their “stamina, courage, and intelligence” and concluded his message with a sweeping blessing for all parties involved, including “GOD BLESS THE WORLD!”
Iran Denies Agreement
Just hours later, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi dismissed Trump’s claims, stating unequivocally that no formal agreement had been reached.
“There is NO agreement on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations,” Araghchi said. “However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 am Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response afterwards.”
He emphasized that while Iran was willing to halt operations if Israeli attacks ceased, the final decision would be taken later by the Iranian leadership.
“The military operations of our powerful Armed Forces to punish Israel for its aggression continued until the very last minute,” Araghchi added.
Adding to the defiance, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, speaking shortly before Trump’s post, declared: “Iran is not a nation that surrenders.”
Israel Maintains Silence
As of publication, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has not issued an official statement confirming or denying Trump’s ceasefire announcement. However, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have not reported any new military operations since early Tuesday morning, fueling speculation that some form of coordinated pause may be underway.
The 12-Day War
The conflict began when Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion” on June 13, targeting Iranian nuclear and military installations in response to what it called “imminent threats.” Iran retaliated with ballistic missile strikes and drone attacks across the region, leading to hundreds of casualties and widespread destruction.
Trump’s self-declared role as peacemaker comes amid a fragile geopolitical environment and raises questions about the veracity and timing of his statements. Whether his announcement reflects back-channel diplomacy or political posturing remains unclear.
For now, the guns have momentarily fallen silent — but peace remains uncertain.
