Donald Trump has once again made global headlines after brokering a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. The truce, announced on 23 June 2025, followed over a week of escalating military attacks that began with Israeli airstrikes and culminated in bunker-buster bombings of Iranian nuclear sites. The surprise intervention, mostly conducted through social media posturing and backchannel diplomacy, has drawn both applause and skepticism from international observers.
The ceasefire came after the direct engagement of Trump with the Qatari government. Note that Qatar acted as the key intermediary between the U.S. and Iran. Multiple reports also revealed that the higher leadership in the Qatari government helped convey messages between Tehran and Washington. This eased the groundwork for an agreement. Trump announced the truce in a bold Truth Social post written in all capital letters that a ceasefire was now in effect.
However, despite the dramatic declaration, both Iran and Israel launched attacks almost immediately after the truce was meant to begin. Trump quickly responded with public reprimands, especially targeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Bring your pilots home,” Trump wrote, expressing strong displeasure over the short-live continuation of strikes. He also warned Iran not to retaliate and asserted the U.S. government would act again if provoked.
Trump worked behind the scenes using all available communication channels. He spoke directly with Netanyahu to convince him to de-escalate while emphasizing the global consequences of continuing the war. This led to one final limited Israeli strike on Iranian radar infrastructure. This was followed by a noticeable lull in military activity. Nevertheless, by 24 June 2025, the ceasefire was tentatively in place, though both sides remained on edge and heavily armed.
Analysts suggest that the motivations of Trump were both diplomatic and personal. His push for peace came during a NATO summit in which he appeared eager to frame himself as a global negotiator and peacemaker. Observers also speculated that Trump aimed to bolster his international credentials to reposition the dwindling geopolitical and international influence of the American government and possibly position himself for a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.
The truce between Iran and Israel has held so far. Previous occasional but initial violations tested the limits of the ceasefire agreement. But it is still worth mentioning that no new major military activities or offensives have occurred. Trump continues to take credit for the ceasefire. He called it a win for everybody. His supporters consider this as a reaffirmation of his leadership. Whether it endures or collapses under the weight of mutual distrust remains to be seen.