Breaking: Surprise Ceasefire Agreement Could End Months of Violence—Key Details & What Happens Next

Breaking Diplomatic Breakthrough: U.S. Brokers Israel-Iran Ceasefire A sudden lull in hostilities is poised to begin tonight after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Iran have accepted a “complete and total” ceasefire scheduled to take effect at 00:00 local time Tuesday. The announcement follows 12 days of escalating missile exchanges that pulled regional allies and American forces into the fray. Why the Guns Fell Silent • Marathon phone diplomacy: White House officials say Trump held separate calls with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Iran’s Supreme National Security Council overnight, offering U.S. guarantees that each side would halt strikes if the other complied first. • Quiet Oman channel: Gulf mediators confirmed Muscat facilitated back-channel talks that nailed down the final text, including a provision allowing drones only for surveillance, not armed strikes. • “No winners”: Both militaries had sustained heavy losses—Israel’s northern bases and Iran’s Khuzestan oil export terminals took the brunt—fueling domestic pressure to de-escalate. Terms of the Ceasefire 1. Immediate cessation of air, missile, and cyber operations. 2. 72-hour window for humanitarian corridors into Iranian Khuzestan and Israel’s Galilee region. 3. Formation of a Joint Monitoring Cell in Doha staffed by U.S., Qatari, and UN observers. 4. Follow-up talks within 14 days to discuss prisoner swaps and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. Regional and Market Reaction • Brent crude dropped 5 % in early Asian trading as shipping insurers signaled they will resume coverage through the Strait. • Gold prices slid from a three-year high as risk sentiment improved. • Lebanese, Jordanian, and Emirati leaders publicly welcomed the truce, while Hezbollah declared it would “honor the stand-down so long as Zionist aggression truly stops.” What Could Break the Truce? Analysts caution that unresolved flashpoints—Syrian missile depots, proxy militias in Iraq, and Iran’s nuclear centrifuge expansion—could resurrect fighting. “Verification will be the make-or-break factor,” says Dr. Laila Marandi of Tehran University. Next Steps UN Secretary-General António Guterres plans to convene a Security Council session Wednesday to formalize a resolution endorsing the ceasefire and authorize peace monitors. Meanwhile, Biden-era sanctions waivers on Iranian oil remain suspended pending progress in the Doha talks. FAQ: Israel-Iran Ceasefire • When does it start? 00:00 local time Tuesday. • Does it include proxies like Hezbollah? Yes, by mutual understanding. • Who guarantees compliance? A U.S.–Qatar–UN monitoring cell. • What about nuclear talks? They are expected to restart once the 14-day review window closes. With war-weary civilians on both sides praying the guns stay silent, tonight’s ceasefire could mark the most significant Middle-East de-escalation since the 2021 Gaza accord—if the fragile agreement holds.