DEVELOPING STORYDEVELOPING STORY,
US president congratulates Iran and Israel on ceasefire deal, but neither country has confirmed agreement to end war.
United States President Donald Trump says that Iran and Israel have agreed to a “complete and total” ceasefire, which will come into effect in the coming hours.
Trump’s announcement on Monday came shortly after an Iranian missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base, which hosts US troops in Qatar.
“On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, ‘THE 12 DAY WAR,’” Trump said in a social media post.
“This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will! God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!”
Neither Israel nor Iran has confirmed the agreement.
Trump’s statement suggested that Iran would stop firing at Israel hours before the Israeli military ends its operations.
Middle East analyst Omar Rahman told Al Jazeera that many details are missing from Trump’s announcement, including whether negotiations would follow the purported ceasefire.
Rahman accused Trump of previous “deception” on behalf of Israel. The US president had re-asserted the US commitment to diplomacy hours before Israel launched its initial attack on Iran.
Last week, Trump said he would decide within two weeks whether to join Israel in the war, only to strike Iran two days later.
Rahman said a major Israeli attack in the final hours, including the possible assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei could blow up the deal.
“If that’s the last operation, would that suddenly end the war? No, of course, not. So, I don’t know what’s in the cards,” he said.
More to come…
