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The Big Story

Trump signals readiness to de-escalate Israel-Iran war

The White House is signaling its openness to de-escalation in the Middle East after President Trump on Monday announced the parameters of ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

Trump said the ceasefire was “fully agreed” to by both sides and will begin to be phased in six hours from now.

He expressed confidence that the end of the fighting between the two countries, which he dubbed “the 12 day war” would stick. The announcement came just two days after the U.S. entered the conflict, hitting three nuclear sites in Iran over the weekend.

The announcement comes after Iran fired more than a dozen missiles at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, a response to the U.S. strikes. But Iran provided advance notice of the strike, a signal that Tehran was not looking to provoke additional American military action.

“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,” President Trump posted on Truth Social.

“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,” Trump added. “Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same.”

Trump met with members of his national security team in the Situation Room on Monday as the White House monitored the Iranian strikes on the base. The president’s response came just hours before he is expected to leave for the NATO summit, where he will meet with allies in The Hague.

The Department of Defense said the attacks were from short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles. Roughly 10,000 U.S. troops are stationed at the base, which Trump visited last month during a trip to the Middle East.

Iran’s actions Monday came at a precarious moment in the Middle East, and it puts the spotlight back on Trump and his appetite for engaging militarily in the region. It has become a rare subject of division among some of Trump’s supporters, and the president himself has sent mixed signals in recent days.

While Trump touted Saturday’s operation targeting three Iranian nuclear facilities as a success, others in the administration have been more circumspect about whether Iran’s nuclear facilities were fully destroyed.

Since Saturday, Trump also has left the door open to future strikes if Iran retaliates, and he mused Sunday about the idea of regime change in Iran in a social media post.

Some officials who have worked with Trump argued his instinct would be to avoid further escalating the conflict, however.

Read the full report at TheHill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.

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Essential Reads

How policy will affect defense and national security now and in
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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday took aim at the recent U.S. strikes on Iran, calling them a “completely unprovoked act of aggression.” “You are visiting Russia during a challenging period, marked by a significant escalation of tensions both in the region and surrounding your country,” Putin told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to an English transcript from the Kremlin. “Russia’s position …

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Trump urges Iran, Israel to seek ‘Peace and Harmony’ after ‘weak’ Qatar strike

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On Our Radar

Upcoming things we’re watching on our beat:

The Netherlands will host the 2025 NATO Leaders Summit for two days starting tomorrow at The Hague, with President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to attend.

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In Other News

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

Senate parliamentarian rejects GOP attempt to authorize states to conduct immigration enforcement

The Senate parliamentarian has rejected several more provisions in the Republican megabill to enact President Trump’s agenda, including language authorizing states to conduct border security and immigration enforcement, which traditionally have been duties of the federal government. Parliamentarian …

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On Tap Tomorrow

Events in and around the defense world:

Hudson Institute will hold a NATO Leaders Summit watch party beginning at 9 a.m.
Hudson Institute also will host a discussion on “The Need for Speed: Transforming Defense Procurement for a Dangerous World,” with House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), and committee ranking member Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), at 10 a.m.
The Air and Space Forces Association will have a virtual conversation on “U.S. Defense Through a Congressional Lens,” with Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), at 3:30 p.m.

What We’re Reading

News we’ve flagged from other outlets:

ICE detains Marine Corps veteran’s wife who was still breastfeeding their baby (The Associated Press)
Afghanistan War Commission hears from vets as it tackles troop surge (Military Times)
Marine Corps veteran says he feels betrayed after his father was arrested by masked federal agents in Southern California (CNN)

Trending Today

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

Supreme Court lifts third country deportation limits; liberals pen scathing dissent

The Supreme Court on Monday lifted judge-imposed limits on the Trump administration’s deportations to countries where migrants have no ties over a … Read more

Iran launches attack against US Air Force base in Qatar

Iran has launched an attack on the Al Udeid U.S. Air Force base in Qatar following strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. A … Read more

Opinions in The Hill

Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill:

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Trump signals readiness to de-escalate Israel-Iran war

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