In an unexpected announcement, President Trump revealed a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Iran following discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian officials, facilitated by Qatar's mediation. The announcement was made just after 6 p.m. ET and was met with surprise from several senior officials within Trump's administration, who were caught off guard by the sudden turn of events.
A senior White House official, who preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity surrounding the discussions, indicated that Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the emir of Qatar, played a crucial role in facilitating these conversations. However, within hours of Trump's announcement, Israeli forces launched fresh attacks against Iranian positions, casting doubt on the tangible progress of the cease-fire.
Despite the confusion, the President had the backing of key administration figures in pushing for the cease-fire, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy. These officials reportedly engaged in extensive diplomatic efforts over the previous two months aimed at addressing Iran's nuclear ambitions.
According to the unnamed official, the U.S. military's recent strikes on Iranian nuclear enrichment sites on the same day helped create a conducive environment for the cease-fire negotiations. While Israel has tentatively agreed to the cease-fire, it awaits guarantees against any further assaults from Iran.
The official did not elaborate on what concessions or assurances Iran may have provided, particularly concerning the status of its enriched uranium reserves. Amid the ongoing developments, questions linger about whether the cease-fire will hold amidst the continuing military exchanges between the two adversarial nations.
