Qatar intervened on behalf of the Trump administration and persuaded Iran to agree to a cease-fire with Israel, according to three diplomats briefed on the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy.
There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli or Iranian governments of a cease-fire, which President Trump said on social media Monday night was imminent, following more than a week of missile attacks between the two nations.
Two Iranian officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss security matters, confirmed that Tehran had agreed to the American proposal. But an Israeli military spokesman declined to comment, and Israel was continuing to strike Iran with missiles in the early hours of Tuesday local time.
Earlier, the three diplomats said, Mr. Trump told Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the emir of Qatar, that Israel had signed off on an American cease-fire proposal and that the president asked that Qatar help bring Iran on board.
Then the Qatari prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, persuaded Iran to agree to the proposal in a call with the Iranian leadership, the diplomats said.
The exact details of what the diplomats said Israel and Iran agreed to remain unclear. Mr. Trump said on social media that the cease-fire would not take place until after the two countries “wound down” military missions in progress, a process he said would unfold in phases over a day.
On Monday evening, Iran attacked Al Udeid Air Base, a large U.S. military installation in Qatar, firing a fusillade of missiles at the site. The deal, if confirmed, would indicate that the wealthy Gulf emirate was simultaneously condemning Iran for its attack on Al Udeid and working to persuade the Islamic Republic to agree to a cease-fire.
Qatari officials have been key interlocutors in the indirect Gaza cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas, and Qatar has long worked to present itself as capable of narrowing the gaps between warring parties.
Ronen Bergman contributed reporting.
Adam Rasgon is a reporter for The Times in Jerusalem, covering Israeli and Palestinian affairs.
Farnaz Fassihi is the United Nations bureau chief for The Times, leading coverage of the organization. She also covers Iran and has written about conflict in the Middle East for 15 years.
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