A dramatic series of diplomatic maneuvers led by Qatar has resulted in a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, following escalating tensions triggered by a missile exchange between Iran and the United States. According to Newsweek, the truce was orchestrated by U.S. President Donald Trump, with Qatar playing a pivotal mediating role.
The ceasefire announcement came just hours after Iran launched six missiles at the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Doha in retaliation for coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
Qatari Leadership Facilitates Agreement
The breakthrough came after intensive negotiations involving Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. They held continuous talks with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance, playing a critical role in bringing both Iran and Israel to the table.
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff conducted direct discussions with Iranian officials, which ultimately led to the phased ceasefire plan.
Iran’s Conditions and Ceasefire Timeline
During a key diplomatic exchange, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Witkoff that Israel must halt its military aggression first. “Israel started the war; it must stop the attacks first,” Araghchi was quoted as saying by Axios, citing White House sources.
According to the deal, Iran agreed to halt its missile attacks at midnight ET on Tuesday, with Israel to follow 12 hours later. Hostilities were scheduled to officially cease by midnight ET on Wednesday.
President Trump confirmed the agreement on his social media platform, Truth Social. However, while Iran’s state media declared the ceasefire a victory, Israel has yet to publicly acknowledge the arrangement.
Casualties and Fallout
Despite the ceasefire, Iranian missiles fired before the agreement reportedly killed four Israeli civilians, as per Reuters. The broader conflict stemmed from joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes aimed at crippling Iran’s uranium enrichment infrastructure.
According to The Telegraph, Iran may have relocated up to 400 kg of enriched uranium before the strikes, raising questions about the mission’s overall effectiveness. While Tehran denies the presence of nuclear material at the targeted sites, Israeli intelligence claims the attacks have delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions by up to two years.
White House: Strikes Helped Enable Ceasefire
A senior White House official told Reuters that the military action helped push Israel toward the truce. “The strikes made the ceasefire possible and agreeable, especially by the Israelis,” the official noted.
Qatar’s Role and Oil Market Reaction
Though Qatar condemned Iran’s attack on its territory as a breach of sovereignty, its mediation proved vital, drawing on its prior negotiation experience during the Gaza conflict.
The de-escalation eased global oil market fears, prompting U.S. crude oil prices to drop 7.2%, settling at $68.51 per barrel.
Comments are closed.