'God bless the Middle East': What Donald Trump said announcing ceasefire between Iran and Israel - full statement

Israel-Iran War: US President Donald Trump said on Monday (local time) that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ‘complete and total ceasefire’ to be phased in over 24 hours.

Trump's annoucement comes hours after Iran launched a missile attack on a US air base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of its three nuclear sites a day before.

The US president took to Truth Social and said that the ceasefire would bring an ‘official end’ to the war, a major change in the hostilities that follows a US strike over the weekend on three Iranian nuclear sites.

“CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!), for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!” Trump wrote.

Earlier in the day, Iran launched missile attacks on US military bases in Qatar and Iraq, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites and escalating tensions in the region.

In a statement, Iran's top security body said that its armed forces used the same number of bombs that the US had used in attacking its nuclear facilities, news agency Reuters reported.  Trump had dismissed the attack as a ‘very weak response,’ revealing that Tehran had warned Washington in advance and that no injuries were reported. Trump had also said he would encourage Israel to also “proceed to Peace and Harmony.”

‘Could have continued for years’

President Trump said that the war between Israel and Iran could have continued for years and destroyed the Middle East.

“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,'” Trump posted.

“This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will!” he added.

'God bless Israel, God bless Iran' 

Trump ended the post with a prayer for both Israel and Iran.'God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD," he said.

The US officials said on Sunday that the country's military "obliterated" Iran's main nuclear sites using 14 bunker-buster bombs, more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles and over 125 military aircraft.

The strikes marked an escalation in the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict, with Israel beginning to strike Iran on June 13. Israeli strikes on Iran have so far killed at least 950 people, wounded 3,450 others, news agency AP quoted a human rights group as saying on Sunday.

(With agency inputs)