On Monday, President Donald Trump successfully brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran through direct discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Concurrently, his team, including Vice President JD Vance, held talks with Tehran, a senior White House official revealed.
The official, providing details of the ceasefire on condition of anonymity, stated that Israel agreed to the truce provided Iran refrained from launching any fresh attacks. Iran, in turn, signaled that no further attacks would occur, according to the official.
The official confirmed that Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US special envoy Steve Witkoff were actively involved in both direct and indirect communications with Iran.
Earlier on Monday, Trump had announced that a “complete and total” ceasefire between Israel and Iran would come into effect in the “coming hours,” a declaration made moments after both sides had threatened new attacks.
This diplomatic effort followed Iran’s launch of missiles against a US air base, which caused no casualties. That attack was a response to US bombers dropping 30,000-pound bunker-busters on Iranian underground nuclear facilities over the weekend.
The official noted that Trump called for talks with Israel and Iran shortly after the US strikes. “He directed his team on Saturday night: ‘Let’s get on the phone… with the Iranians,'” the official quoted Trump saying. “‘Get me Bibi. We’re going to make peace,'” the official added, attributing the quote to the President.
Trump’s team had engaged in negotiations with Iran on five separate occasions in the weeks leading up to the conflict. However, those talks broke down when Iran refused to withdraw its demand to continue uranium enrichment.
Trump had announced on Thursday that he would make a decision on American use of force “within two weeks.” Yet, by Saturday afternoon, he had ordered the United States to bomb the Iranian facilities. Trump’s unprecedented decision to bomb Iran’s nuclear sites early on Sunday marked a significant departure, representing a military intervention in a major foreign conflict that he had long vowed to avoid.
This move to join US ally Israel in military strikes had stirred concern within his right-leaning “Make America Great Again” political base, which has consistently supported his promises to steer clear of foreign entanglements.
Should the ceasefire hold, it may quiet this criticism and further strengthen Trump’s public image as a peacemaker. The ceasefire itself emerged from a day of intense conversations that Trump conducted from the Oval Office. The President spoke directly with Netanyahu, who throughout the conflict has been a proponent of greater US military involvement.
The official emphasized that Trump has “shown restraint” and clearly demonstrated his commitment to keeping US interests central to his objectives.
