U.S. President Donald Trump has brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran following a weekend of escalating military conflict. The agreement was reached after high-level talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and indirect negotiations with Tehran led by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, according to a senior White House official.
The ceasefire, which Trump said would take effect within hours, requires Iran to halt further attacks. In return, Israel agreed to pause military actions. The breakthrough came shortly after Iran launched missile strikes on a U.S. air base—causing no casualties—in retaliation for American airstrikes that targeted Iran’s underground nuclear facilities with 30,000-pound bunker-busters.
Trump reportedly initiated the diplomatic push on Saturday night, instructing his team to re-engage with Iranian officials and reach out to Netanyahu with the goal of securing peace. Although the U.S. had held five previous rounds of negotiations with Iran in recent weeks, talks had stalled over Iran’s refusal to stop uranium enrichment.
Trump's decision to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities marked a dramatic shift from his long-standing promise to avoid U.S. military entanglement abroad. The military action raised concerns among his “America First” base, which values non-interventionism. However, the ceasefire may now help Trump reframe himself as a peacemaker, reinforcing his leadership narrative as he weighs further foreign policy moves.
The agreement capped a tense day of diplomacy, with Trump conducting negotiations from the Oval Office and emphasizing U.S. interests. Netanyahu, a consistent advocate for stronger U.S. support, was reportedly receptive to Trump’s initiative. The White House believes the ceasefire could stabilize the region—if Iran holds back from future aggression.