Iran, Israel remain silent on Trump-announced ceasefire

ISTANBUL

Iranian and Israeli officials have so far declined Tuesday to comment on a ceasefire agreement announced by US President Donald Trump, as reports emerge that Qatar played a key mediating role in the deal.

Iranian Foreign Ministry officials told Anadolu that they are “monitoring the developments” and will announce “the result” later, without confirming or denying the ceasefire.

The Israeli army’s spokesperson did not respond to Anadolu's inquiries regarding the ceasefire declaration.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently convening a meeting with members of the Security Cabinet, according to Israel’s Channel 12.

The same media outlet also reported that Netanyahu has instructed his ministers not to comment publicly on the ceasefire agreement until further notice.

Earlier, the Hebrew-language channel i24 News cited an Israeli source as saying that Qatar had mediated the ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran, though there has been no official confirmation by any of the parties involved.

Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that both sides had reached a deal to halt hostilities.

“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!" he wrote.

Regional tensions sharply escalated Sunday after the US bombed Iran’s Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities.

The attacks were the latest escalation in a US-backed Israeli military assault on Iran since June 13, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory attacks on Israel.