Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared the end of a 12-day war with Israel on Tuesday, delivering a message of resilience and victory to the nation through the official IRNA news agency.
“Today, after the heroic resistance of our great nation, whose determination makes history, we are witnessing the establishment of a truce and the ending of this 12-day war imposed by the adventurism and provocation” of Israel, Pezeshkian stated.
In a separate development, the Iranian president signaled a willingness to address longstanding disputes with the United States through internationally recognized channels.
His comments came during a phone conversation with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also reported by IRNA.
This call followed an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who confirmed a ceasefire deal had been reached between Israel and Iran.
According to a source familiar with the matter, Qatar played a key role in facilitating the agreement.
After Iranian missiles struck a U.S. base near Doha, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani stepped in at Washington’s request.
Acting as a mediator, he spoke with Iranian officials to encourage acceptance of a U.S.-proposed ceasefire.
Qatar, which maintains friendly relations with both Tehran and Washington, had been actively advocating for a peaceful resolution alongside other Gulf nations such as Oman.
“In the aftermath of the strikes on Al Udeid (military base), President (Donald) Trump told the Emir of Qatar Israel had signed off on an American ceasefire proposal,” said the source. “The US president then asked that Qatar help get Iran to agree to a deal.”
The same source added that U.S. Vice President JD Vance also communicated with Qatar’s prime minister, who subsequently convinced Iranian officials to accept the proposal during a phone call.
Israel confirmed on Tuesday that it had agreed to the ceasefire, with President Trump noting that the agreement was “in effect.”
While Iran has yet to officially endorse the truce, its top security officials claimed that Iranian forces had “compelled” Israel to “unilaterally” cease hostilities.
The Iranian strike on Al Udeid, the largest U.S. military base in the region, was said to be a direct response to American attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites. The incident did not result in any casualties.
Speaking at a press briefing, Qatar’s prime minister acknowledged that his country initiated contact with Iran at the request of the U.S. He labeled the attack on Qatari territory as “unacceptable” but emphasized that Doha’s reaction would remain “diplomatic and legal.”
“The attack on the State of Qatar is an unacceptable act, especially that the State of Qatar has been making great diplomatic efforts in order to have the situation de-escalated,” he stated.
Iran’s foreign minister maintained that the missile strikes were aimed at the American base, not Qatar itself, describing the move as an act of “self-defence.”
Qatar’s foreign ministry welcomed the ceasefire and described it as a “meaningful step toward adopting dialogue and diplomacy to resolve conflicts in the region.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed also called on both Washington and Tehran to restart talks over Iran’s nuclear program, talks previously mediated by Oman but suspended once Israel launched strikes on Iranian soil.
He reiterated Qatar’s ongoing efforts to mediate between Israel and Hamas, expressing hope that indirect negotiations could resume soon.
“We are still continuing our efforts, and God willing, we will try to look for an opportunity during the next two days to have indirect negotiations between the two parties,” he said.
“We hope that the Israeli side will not exploit the ceasefire with Iran to unleash what it wants to unleash on Gaza and continue its bombing of the Strip, Sheikh Mohammed added.
Meanwhile, President Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran has no intention of developing nuclear weapons but would continue to protect its rights to peaceful nuclear energy.
In a conversation with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed, Pezeshkian stressed the importance of diplomacy over force.
“We expect you to explain to them, in your dealings with the United States, that the Islamic Republic of Iran is only seeking to assert its legitimate rights,” he said, as quoted by IRNA.
“It has never sought to acquire nuclear weapons and does not seek them,” he added, noting that Iran is prepared to return to the negotiating table.
The recent confrontation, marked by Israeli strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities and the killing of senior military and scientific figures, also saw the U.S. launch an unprecedented wave of attacks on Iranian sites at Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz on Sunday.
The outbreak of fighting came just two days before Iran and the United States were scheduled to meet for renewed discussions on the nuclear issue.
Following the ceasefire, Israel’s military announced the lifting of wartime restrictions across the country.
Public gatherings, schools, and workplaces will return to normal operations beginning Tuesday evening, according to a statement by the Israeli military. These measures will remain in place until at least Thursday night.