The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran—announced abruptly by U.S. President Donald Trump—was the result of behind-the-scenes diplomacy involving the United States and Qatar, officials revealed late Monday.
According to a senior White House official, Trump initiated the talks by first speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, followed by a call to Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Qatar then helped bring Iran on board.
The agreement came just hours after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in retaliation for American airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Though no casualties were reported, the attack underscored the fragile window for diplomacy.
Trump stated that Iran had given advance notice of the missile strike—possibly as a face-saving gesture to demonstrate strength without provoking escalation. This allowed U.S. and Qatari forces to take precautions and evacuate key personnel.
“After the Iranian strike, Tehran sent a message via Qatar that it wanted no further conflict,” a U.S. source told Axios. In response, Washington offered to halt retaliation if Iran did the same.
Top American officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, were involved in the final negotiations. Vance later told Fox News that Israel had nearly achieved its objectives and supported winding down the war.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials confirmed the damage inflicted on Iranian nuclear and missile programs was substantial. The strategic goals of “Operation Rising Lion” had been met, they said, warranting a pause in hostilities.
The ceasefire is being celebrated as a diplomatic success, but both sides remain wary. While the agreement holds for now, sporadic attacks continued into early Tuesday, raising concerns about the ceasefire’s durability in the days ahead.
