Israel-Iran ceasefire: How Donald Trump brokered Israel-Iran truce

“We are going to make peace,” US President Donald Trump told his officials on Sunday, hours after America bombed three nuclear sites in Iran. Even though he talked tough in public, hinting at the possibility of a regime change, US officials started hectic talks with Iran, while Trump himself dialled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to broker a ceasefire.

“Let’s get on the phone with the Iranians,” an official quoted Trump as telling his officials, Reuters reported. Meanwhile, the eccentric US President took it upon himself to convince Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire as the conflict showed signs of engulfing the whole Middle East region.

“Get me Bibi. We are going to make peace,” the official said, quoting Trump. Benjamin Netanyahu is fondly called ‘Bibi’ in Israel.

After a detailed conversation, Netanyahu finally gave in and agreed to the ceasefire provided Israel isn’t subject to further attacks from Iran.

It came as Israel indicated that it was looking to “wrap up its attacks” on Iran soon and had passed the message on to the US.

QATAR HELPS IN IRAN NEGOTIATIONS

While getting Israel on board was not difficult, negotiating with Iran proved to be a tough task as Tehran was baying for revenge after the US bombed three vital nuclear sites – Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. It is here that Qatar stepped in.

After speaking with Netanyahu, Trump spoke with the Emir of Qatar and asked him to work on persuading Iran to also agree to a ceasefire, CNN reported, quoting a source. Vice President JD Vance then coordinated with the Qatari Prime Minister’s office.

Apart from Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US special envoy Steve Witkoff were also involved in the talks with Iran.

After speaking with the Qatari Prime Minister, Iran agreed to the ceasefire proposal, CNN reported.

“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 in the early hours of Tuesday.

While Iran initially denied that there was any such agreement, its Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, later made a U-turn and said a ceasefire was being “imposed on the enemy”.

ANNOUNCEMENT CAUGHT TRUMP OFFICIALS BY SURPRISE

Trump’s abrupt ceasefire announcement, even as Israel and Iran traded missiles on Monday, caught even some of his own top administration officials by surprise, the NYT reported.

More so, after Iran launched missiles at US airbases in Qatar and Iraq in response to the bombing, sparking fears of a wider and long-drawn conflict in the region. The Al-Udeid base, which was targeted, is the largest strategic asset of the US military in the Middle East.

– Ends