President Donald Trump was able to broker a ceasefire between Iran and Israel after a series of high-level negotiations on Monday.
The agreement came after direct negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and direct and indirect negotiations with Iranian representatives by U.S. officials, as per a senior White House official.
Speaking on background, the official disclosed that Israel committed to the ceasefire on the condition that Iran would not launch more attacks. Tehran responded that it never had any intention of continuing the attacks.
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff were all fully engaged in the diplomatic efforts towards Iran, the official confirmed.
Earlier that day, Trump declared that a “complete and total” ceasefire was imminent, even as tensions escalated with both nations threatening renewed hostilities.
On the weekend, Iran struck a U.S. air base with missiles as a response to American attacks on its nuclear facilities. The U.S. had installed 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs on major underground Iranian nuclear targets. While Iran's retaliatory attack did not cause any casualties, it fueled concerns of an all-out war.
The senior official says that Trump reacted quickly to ease tensions.
“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,’” he quoted Trump as saying, using Netanyahu’s nickname.
Efforts to initiate contact with Iran were already in progress. The United States had reportedly conducted five rounds of talks with Tehran in the weeks leading up to the conflict, but they broke down over Iran's demand to pursue its uranium enrichment program.
Trump initially indicated that he would make a final determination on American military action in two weeks. But by Saturday afternoon, he directed precision attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities—a shift that was a sharp departure from his longtime reluctance to fight foreign wars.
This record escalation alarmed Trump's "America First" base of supporters, many of whom have been adamant in backing his vows to avoid entangling the country in major foreign wars.
If the ceasefire holds, it could defuse political criticism and enable Trump to reinforce his reputation as a leader who can push through for peace at the last minute.
The breakthrough came after a day of frantic Oval Office negotiations, with Trump addressing Netanyahu directly, according to reports. Throughout the war, the Israeli leader has been insistent on more U.S. military involvement.
In line with the official from the White House, Trump showed "restraint" while maintaining America's strategic interests at the center of his decision-making."
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