Trump demonstrates the power - Iran and Israel reached a ceasefire

Trump demonstrates the power - Iran and Israel reached a ceasefire

In the smoke of the Middle East conflict, a 24-hour storm of gunpowder and diplomatic maneuvers finally led to a fragile but significant ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel. From missiles flying over the Gulf to the president walking on the lawn, this day not only reshaped the regional situation, but also once again demonstrated the complex game of great power politics.

01｜The prelude to the storm: conflict approaches the Gulf

Time: 07:00 Washington / 14:30 Tehran

In the early morning of June 24, the US government suddenly issued a "shelter in place" warning to American citizens stationed in Qatar. At the same time, the UK also issued a similar suggestion. Iran is apparently responding to the previous US bombing of its nuclear facilities and preparing to attack the al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

The al-Udeid US military base in Qatar

02｜Missile attack: Qatar airspace closed

Time: 12:00 Washington / 19:30 Tehran

Qatar announced the closure of its airspace, and then the United States detected that Iranian missile launchers were pointed at Qatar. Moments later, explosions resounded throughout Doha, and the air defense system successfully intercepted the incoming missiles. Although the target of the attack was clear, the US military personnel had already evacuated and no casualties were reported. Some analysts believe that this was a controlled retaliation with "advance notification" to save face and avoid escalation.

03｜“We didn’t hurt anyone”: Iran’s hint

Time: 13:00 Washington / 20:30 Tehran

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the attack was a "response" to the presence of U.S. troops in the Middle East. Supreme Leader Khamenei even posted a satirical image on social media, but wrote "we didn't hurt anyone," laying the groundwork for the subsequent diplomatic mediation.

04｜Trump speaks out: olive branch and hint

Time: 16:00 Washington / 23:30 Tehran

Two hours before the attack on the US base, Trump thanked Iran in a calm tone for its "advance notice" and said the missile attack was a "clearing of emotions". He suggested that "maybe it's time to promote regional peace" and put pressure on Israel to cool down, and tweeted: "Congratulations to the world, it's time for peace!"

05｜Behind-the-scenes negotiations: High-intensity operations of multi-line diplomacy

Time: 18:00 Washington / 01:30 Tehran

Trump personally called Netanyahu to stop further attacks. Vice President JD Vance and chief negotiator Steve Witkoff secretly communicated with Iran. The White House is accelerating the promotion of a "Trump-style" ceasefire agreement in the Middle East.

06｜Announcement of ceasefire: agreement reached, fate yet to be determined

Time: 22:00 Washington / 05:30 Tehran

Trump announced that Iran and Israel had reached a comprehensive ceasefire agreement, saying that "the ceasefire is now in effect." The Israel Defense Forces subsequently confirmed that they had accepted the agreement, saying that they had achieved their war goal of "destroying Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities."

07｜On the brink of conflict: the “final blow” of ceasefire

Time: Around 4 a.m. local time in Israel

Just before the agreement came into effect, the two sides had a "final round" of exchanges of fire. Iran's missile attack on Israel killed at least four people; Israel then retaliated with air strikes in northern Iran, killing several civilians and a nuclear scientist.

Both sides accused each other of "taking action" before the agreed deadline. The ceasefire almost broke down when it came into effect.

Israel has struck military, security and energy targets throughout Iran, including the Sharan oil depot near Tehran on 15 June

08｜Morning chaos: Trump puts pressure on the deal, barely holding up

Time: 07:00 Washington / 14:30 Tehran

Faced with the possibility of the ceasefire agreement collapsing, Trump once again stated as he set off for the NATO summit: "They have to calm down." He criticized Israel's excessive actions and sternly asked Netanyahu to recall the fighter jets over the phone. The White House called the call "very direct" and the agreement was still valid, but it was hanging by a thread.

Epilogue: A game of politics and force

This diplomatic storm that broke out within 24 hours highlights the complexity and sensitivity of the situation in the Middle East. Although the ceasefire agreement has formally taken effect, there is a serious lack of trust, and the future situation will still depend on the delicate balance of multilateral politics. Trump won a short-term victory to stop the war, but whether it can be sustained remains unknown.