Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine discusses the mission details of a strike on Iran during a news conference at the Pentagon on June 22, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.  (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Israel and Iran reached a truce in their 12-day-old war Monday, President Donald Trump said on social media.

The ceasefire will go into effect at midnight Eastern, he said.

“It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE … for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!” Trump wrote. “Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World. During each CEASEFIRE, the other side will remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL.

“On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, ‘THE 12 DAY WAR,’” he continued. “This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will!”

Neither Israel nor Iran immediately confirmed the agreement to cease hostilities, but Iran Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi tweeted about three hours after Trump’s post that the country’s military had stopped fighting.

“The military operations of our powerful Armed Forces to punish Israel for its aggression continued until the very last minute, at 4am,” he wrote. “Together with all Iranians, I thank our brave Armed Forces who remain ready to defend our dear country until their last drop of blood, and who responded to any attack by the enemy until the very last minute.”

There was no confirmation from Israel by late Monday Eastern time.

Trump’s announcement came just hours after Iran fired missiles at a U.S. military base in Qatar in retaliation for weekend strikes on nuclear facilities. The missiles were shot down without causing any casualties, Trump wrote.

Iran alerted U.S. leaders before the strike, Trump said, in an apparent effort to minimize casualties — a signal of de-escalation that Trump appeared ready to accept.

“Iran has officially responded to our Obliteration of their Nuclear Facilities with a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered,” Trump wrote Monday afternoon. “There have been 14 missiles fired — 13 were knocked down, and 1 was ‘set free,’ because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction. I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done.

“Most importantly, they’ve gotten it all out of their ‘system,’ and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE. I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured. Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same.”

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Iran’s counterattack had been anticipated.

“This is the retaliation that was expected,” the Louisiana Republican told reporters in the Capitol, in a video posted to social media by CNN. “So far, so good. No casualties.”

No briefings in advance for Dems

Despite Trump’s description of the “obliteration” of Iranian nuclear facilities, it was unclear Monday how damaged the country’s nuclear program was following the U.S. bombing of three major nuclear enrichment facilities on Saturday, U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said at a Monday press conference.

The New York Democrat said he had not been briefed by the administration ahead of the operation, receiving only a “courtesy call” from the White House that strikes were imminent.

A classified briefing with the so-called Gang of Eight — the Republican and Democratic floor leaders and top members of the Intelligence Committee in each chamber of Congress — is scheduled for Tuesday, he said.

“We’ve seen no evidence to justify (the administration’s) offensive strike in Iran, and we also don’t even know how effective the strike has been,” Jeffries said. “There’s zero evidence that I’ve seen that the nuclear program was completely and totally obliterated, as Donald Trump has claimed, no evidence that has been presented to Congress to suggest that that has occurred. Let’s see what happens at the classified briefing tomorrow.”

Jeffries strongly opposed Trump’s intervention in the war between Iran and Israel without first gaining support of Congress.

But he sidestepped questions about whether the decision was an impeachable offense or if he would support a bipartisan resolution to restrain the president’s power to wage war in Iran.

“The use of military force which is offensive in nature must be approved by the House and the Senate,” he said. “That’s according to the Constitution. It’s not optional, Donald.”

War powers resolution

Jeffries said he had “not taken a look at” the resolution sponsored by Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie and California Democrat Ro Khanna. Due to rules changes under the House GOP majority, consideration of the resolution cannot be forced immediately, he said.

Massie said Monday the resolution had 57 cosponsors in the House.

Johnson said he would not support the resolution.

“I don’t think it’s an appropriate time for a war powers resolution,” Johnson said. “And I don’t think it’s necessary.”

New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and other members of Jeffries’ caucus have suggested impeaching Trump over his use of military force without approval from Congress.

Asked if Democrats would pursue impeachment if they win back the majority in the 2026 mid-term elections, Jeffries indicated that would not be his first step.

“A tool that’s on the table right now is to continue to demand that the administration present itself before the United States Congress and make a case to the American people as to why this extraordinary step has been taken,” he said. “That’s step one. Step two is for the war powers resolution to be debated on the House floor, as should have occurred already, and then we’ll see where we’re at thereafter.” 

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during her confirmation hearing before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill on Jan. 17, 2025.  (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over the weekend briefed state governors regarding public safety measures following President Donald Trump’s decision to bomb nuclear sites in Iran.

On Monday, Iran launched retaliatory strikes toward a U.S. military base in Qatar, according to Iran’s state media and The Associated Press.

“Secretary Noem has spoken with Governors nationwide, as well as state and local law enforcement to ensure our partners at every level of government have the information they need to keep their communities safe,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to States Newsroom. “It is our duty to keep the nation safe and informed, especially during times of conflict.”

Noem was the governor of South Dakota before Trump nominated her to lead DHS.

DHS did not confirm when the meeting took place, but the United States on Saturday bombed three nuclear sites in Iran.

The conflict comes after Israel this month conducted coordinated attacks on Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure and killed senior military officials and nuclear scientists to prevent Iran from becoming closer to building an atomic weapon, according to the AP.

In response, Iran has launched missile and drone attacks in Israel.

Trump has repeatedly vowed that Iran must not have access to nuclear weapons, but his National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard told Congress in March that Iran was not building nuclear weapons since the program was suspended in 2003.

Gabbard over the weekend told CNN that her testimony from March was taken out of context and that she agrees with Trump’s decision to bomb Iran.

Governors take precautions

In response to the bombings over the weekend, governors said they have taken precautionary measures for not only a physical attack but cyber as well.

Maryland’s Democratic Gov. Wes Moore wrote on social media that he was in close contact with the Maryland Military Department “to ensure Marylanders at home and abroad are protected.”

“As someone who has worn the uniform of this country and deployed overseas alongside some of America’s greatest warriors and patriots, I know the profound sacrifices our soldiers and their families make every day,” he said.

Nebraska Republican Gov. Jim Pillen, on social media, thanked Noem for briefing the governors and praised the president for his “leadership and decisiveness yesterday to devastate the Iranian nuclear program and the threat it posed to American national security.” Pillen added that there were currently no threats to Nebraska.

North Carolina’s Democratic Gov. Josh Stein wrote on social media that the meeting with Noem focused on public safety.

“Public safety officials in North Carolina are working in close coordination with local, state, and federal partners to remain vigilant against any retaliatory threat, whether physical or cyber,” he said.

Arizona’s Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and Georgia’s Republican Gov. Brian Kemp also wrote on social media that potential retaliatory attacks from Iran were discussed at the meeting.

“We are coordinating with law enforcement on all levels as we closely monitor any possible threats,” Kemp said.

Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Maura Healey wrote on social media that there are no threats to her state, but that her administration is continuing to “coordinate with state, local and federal partners to closely monitor the situation.”

Following the meeting, Missouri’s Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe encouraged his residents to report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement.

“The Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) has already notified every law enforcement agency in the state of this heightened sense of awareness as well as all state trained Terrorism Liaison Officers,” he said.