US president Donald Trump has announced that the Middle East arch-rivals are ending their “12-day war”

Iran and Israel have agreed to end hostilities, Trump claimed on Monday evening. The announcement came hours after Iran fired missiles at a US military base in Qatar, in response to American strikes on its nuclear facilities.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote:

“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, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!), for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!”

“Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World. During each CEASEFIRE, the other side will remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL“

“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“

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi hdenied that a ceasefire agreement is in place, but said that Iran would respect the deal and end its attacks if Israel does the same by 4 am Tehran time (12:30 am GMT).

However Israel’s defence minister has accused Iran of violating the ceasefire, two hours after agreeing to the deal brokered by Donald Trump and Qatar

Israel Katz has vowed to “respond forcefully to Iran’s violation of the ceasefire with intense strikes against regime targets in the heart of Tehran”

Iran has denied violating the deal.