How the Iran-Israel Ceasefire Came Together

One name is emerging as a key figure in helping President Trump secure a ceasefire between Israel and Iran—the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. A rough chronology, from various reports.

• On Monday afternoon, shortly after Iran's relatively low-key retaliation against the US, Trump called Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu and secured a pledge to a ceasefire, reports the New York Times.
• Trump then spoke with the Qatari emir to ask for help in getting Iran to agree as well, reports Reuters. Al Thani spoke with Iranian officials by phone and did so, according to the account.

• When both sides agreed, Trump announced the deal on Truth Social, and it caught many administration officials by surprise, per the Times. However, three in the loop were Vice President JD Vance, envoy Steve Witkoff, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. All three had been using "direct and indirect" channels to convey messages to Iran, according to the account.
• Rubio also reportedly spoke with Qatar's prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, who is also believed to have helped sway the Iranians, perhaps in tandem with the emir.
• Axios reports that Trump actually began pushing in earnest for a ceasefire on Saturday, after American bombers hit Iranian nuclear sites. The president instructed Witkoff that day "to communicate to the Iranians his desire "to negotiate a deal to end the war," the report says. Iranian initially rebuffed him, saying it planned to retaliate first.

(The ceasefire appears to be on track after a rocky start that elicited an expletive from Trump.)