In an intense 48-hour period, US President Donald Trump went from ordering military strikes to declaring peace, navigating a high-risk diplomatic and military crisis between Israel and Iran that threatened to ignite a regional war.

Here’s a detailed timeline of how the ceasefire unfolded -- and nearly fell apart.

Sunday morning: US strikes set off crises

In the early hours of Sunday morning, the US military carried out coordinated airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. US officials later said the strikes had significantly set back Iran’s nuclear capabilities. These attacks followed 12 days of intense Israeli bombardment of Iranian targets.

Trump, informed of the operation’s success, saw a diplomatic opportunity. He immediately directed his team to initiate calls with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatari intermediaries.

Sunday mid-day: Trump presses Netanyahu to stand down

Trump personally called Netanyahu, urging him to halt Israeli operations. According to a senior White House official, the US president warned that Washington would not support any further offensive actions. He told the Israeli leader that Iran's immediate threat had been neutralised and argued that it was time to pursue diplomacy.

Netanyahu, although not fully convinced, acknowledged Trump’s message. Israel had reportedly achieved most of its war objectives.

Sunday afternoon: US envoy talks to Iranian Foreign Minister

Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, reached out to Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. He urged Iran to return to negotiations and warned of the U.S.’s overwhelming military capability -- but also offered an olive branch, stating the administration wanted peace.

Simultaneously, Qatari officials began mediating between the U.S. and Iran, encouraged by signs that Tehran might be open to de-escalation.

Sunday evening: Signs of de-escalation from Iran

Late Sunday, Iran launched a retaliatory attack on the U.S. Al-Ubeid air base in Qatar, firing 14 missiles. However, 13 were intercepted by U.S. and Qatari missile defences. One missile was allowed to continue its course as it posed no threat.

The limited and apparently telegraphed strike was seen by the Trump administration as a “face-saving” gesture — evidence that Iran did not wish to escalate the conflict further.

Monday morning: Qatar takes the lead in mediation

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani confirmed that the U.S. had requested Qatar to contact Iran to explore its willingness for a ceasefire. According to Qatari officials, a long call took place between Trump and the Qatari emir, in which Trump agreed to pursue a full ceasefire if Iran stood down.

Meanwhile, Trump followed up with Netanyahu, securing conditional Israeli support: Israel would halt its military campaign so long as Iran stopped its attacks.

Monday evening: Trump announces ceasefire

Vice President JD Vance was appearing live on Fox News when Trump posted to his Truth Social platform, declaring a “Complete and Total CEASEFIRE.” Vance, taken aback by the news, confirmed that talks were still underway when he left the White House, calling the announcement “good news.”

Trump's declaration was bold, but it was not yet universally acknowledged.

Tuesday early hours (Tehran time): Iran hesitates, Israel attacks

Despite Trump’s confidence, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi posted on social media that no agreement had yet been signed. He stated that Iran would only halt attacks if Israel ceased its aggression by 4 a.m. Tehran time.

But before that deadline arrived, Israel launched a major assault on central Tehran. According to the Israeli prime minister’s office, the strike hit regime targets and killed hundreds of members of Iran’s Basij and security forces.

Iran responded with a fresh wave of rocket fire, and local reports confirmed nine civilian casualties in northern Gilan province.

Tuesday morning: Trump fumes, issues warning to Israel

On the White House lawn, before departing for a NATO summit in the Netherlands, Trump expressed frustration with both Iran and Israel, saying:

“They don’t know what the f— they’re doing.”

Minutes later, he posted an explosive message on Truth Social:

“ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION.”

On Air Force One, Trump called Netanyahu directly. A senior official described Trump’s tone as “exceptionally firm and direct.” The Israeli prime minister was told in no uncertain terms to back down.

Tuesday afternoon: Ceasefire finally takes hold

Following the call with Trump, Netanyahu’s office issued a statement confirming that Israel had paused further attacks after the appeal from Washington. “We refrained from additional attacks,” the statement said.

Shortly after, Trump once again took to social media:

“ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran… the Ceasefire is in effect!”

He even joked that Israeli jets would return home while doing a “friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran.”

Tuesday evening: Trump celebrates a self-proclaimed victory

As Air Force One headed to Europe, Trump was already declaring the operation a success. In one of several triumphant posts, he wrote:

“It was my great honour to Destroy All Nuclear facilities & capability, and then, STOP THE WAR!”

Trump’s administration now claims it is pursuing a broader peace deal — one that could build on this ceasefire and include more comprehensive security guarantees and nuclear limitations.

What’s next?

Despite the declaration of peace, both Iran and Israel remain wary and muted. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has made no public endorsement of the ceasefire. Netanyahu delayed his own statement by several hours.

The ceasefire itself is fragile — more a mutual pause in aggression than a structured agreement. Still, after days of direct confrontation and with diplomacy now underway through Qatar and other intermediaries, the threat of wider war has, at least temporarily, receded.