Trump brokered ceasefire in call with Netanyahu while US team spoke to Iran
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
US President Donald Trump meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on April 7.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
Follow our live coverage here.
WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran
The official, providing details of the ceasefire on condition of anonymity, said Israel agreed to it so long as Iran does not launch fresh attacks. Iran signalled that no further attacks would take place, the official said.
Mr Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US special envoy Steve Witkoff were involved in the direct and indirect communications with Iran, the official said.
Mr Trump said earlier on June 23 that a “complete and total” ceasefire between Israel and Iran would go into force in the coming hours, moments after both sides threatened new attacks.
Iran launched missiles against a US air base, causing no casualties, after US bombers dropped 13,600kg bunker busters on Iranian underground nuclear facilities over the weekend.
The official said Mr Trump called for talks with Israel and Iran soon after the US strikes.
“He directed his team on Saturday night: ‘Let’s get on the phone... with the Iranians’,” the official said. “‘Get me Bibi. We’re going to make peace’,” the official said, quoting Mr Trump.
Mr Trump’s team had negotiated with Iran on five different occasions in the weeks leading up to the conflict, but the talks broke down when Iran would not back away from its demand that it continue enriching uranium.
Mr Trump announced on June 19 that he would make a decision on American use of force “within two weeks”, but by the afternoon of June 21, he had ordered the US to bomb the Iranian facilities.
Mr Trump’s unprecedented decision to bomb Iran’s nuclear sites early on June 23 marked a step that he had long vowed to avoid – to intervene militarily in a major foreign war.
Moving to join US ally Israel in military strikes stirred up concern within his right-leaning “Make America Great Again” political base, which has clung to his promises to avoid foreign entanglements.
A ceasefire, if it holds, may quiet that criticism and reinforce Mr Trump’s portrayal of himself as a peacemaker.
The ceasefire emerged from a day of conversations that Mr Trump conducted in the Oval Office. The President spoke directly to Mr Netanyahu, who has been a proponent throughout the conflict of more US military involvement.
Mr Trump has “shown restraint” and made clear he was keeping US interests central to his goal, the official said. REUTERS
