In a dramatic turn of events this week, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a “complete and total” ceasefire between Israel and Iran, effectively bringing an end to a 12-day military conflagration that erupted on June 13 with Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites. The announcement, made via Trump’s Truth Social platform, stated the ceasefire would begin within six hours, granting each side a 12-hour window of halted operations, culminating in a formal end to hostilities.

Trump framed the agreement as a diplomatic triumph, crediting his administration and Qatar’s mediation for brokering a peaceful resolution. He emphasized that both nations had expressed eagerness for de-escalation: “both approached me, almost simultaneously, and said, ‘PEACE!’” The U.S. claimed that Israel had achieved its military objectives, primarily neutralizing Iran's nuclear enrichment and ballistic missile capabilities, and that Tehran had agreed to halt offensive operations, conditional on Israel’s compliance.

However, uncertainty quickly clouded the ceasefire’s viability. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz accused Iran of violating the agreement mere hours after it took effect, claiming missile launches toward Israeli territory and announcing renewed strikes on Tehran. Iran denied any violation, with its General Staff refuting reports of post‑ceasefire launches and stating they would only hold fire if Israel did the same by a specified deadline. These developments triggered fresh waves of missile alarms in Israeli cities like Beersheba and northern regions, prompting air‑raid warnings and heightened military alert status. The mixed signals cast significant doubt on the ceasefire’s durability.

Economically, the announcement provided temporary relief; oil prices dropped around 3–5% amid hopes that the conflict would not further disrupt Middle Eastern supply, even as analysts warned that continued military uncertainty could counterbalance short‑term gains. Meanwhile, diplomatic channels continued to hum. Key U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and a White House envoy, were said to have been directly involved in negotiations with both Israel and Iran, alongside Qatar’s Emir.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council expressed readiness to treat the ceasefire as a victory for its defensive response. At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu commended the U.S. role and warned strongly against any breaches. In sum, while the declared U.S.-brokered ceasefire offers a fragile pause in one of the most intense Israel–Iran confrontations in decades, the contradictory claims from both sides and rapid resumption of military actions suggest that its success remains uncertain. Continued diplomatic engagement and mutual restraint will be vital to prevent renewed escalation in the region.