US Enters Iran-Israel War, Claims Ceasefire: 48-Hour Timeline Of Middle East Conflict

Last Updated:June 24, 2025, 09:44 IST

The United States entered the Iran-Israel war with strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, prompting fears of regional escalation. Here's a timeline of how things unfolded.

Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept missiles over Tel Aviv (Photo: AP)

The United States inserted itself into Israel’s war and attacked Iranian nuclear sites, nearly 10 days into the ongoing war, thus expanding the fears of a wider regional conflict in the Middle East. The price of oil rose as financial markets reacted.

Iran lashed out at the US for crossing “a very big red line" with its risky gambit to strike the three sites with missiles and 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs.

President Donald Trump, who warned of additional strikes if Tehran retaliates against US forces, also mused about the possibility of “regime change" in Iran, despite administration officials earlier indicating they wanted to restart talks with Iran.

In the latest, Trump has claimed he brokered a ceasefire deal between Iran and Israel. However, the status of the truce remains unclear.

Here’s a timeline of how the United States got itself involved in the Iran-Israel war, and what happened during the past 48 hours.

June 22, between 3.30 and 6.00 am

• US carries out airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites
• Iran receives back-channel messages
• US says it is open to talks, but with a condition – no uranium enrichment

June 23, late at night

• Iran launches missile attack on the United States’ Al-Udeid base in Qatar
• Qatar alerts the US in advance; missiles are intercepted; no casualties

June 24, wee hours

• Iran accepts ceasefire proposal via Qatari PM’s office
• An agreement based on Israel halting its attacks

June 24, early morning

• Donald Trump speaks directly with Israeli PM Netanyahu
• US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, coordinate talks via Qatar
• Trump also calls Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to thank and urge mediation with Iran

June 24, 3.30 am (IST)

Donald Trump on Truth Social announces “complete and total ceasefire" and an “official end to the 12-day war"

June 24, 7.00 am

• Iran halts military operations
• Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says strikes continued until “the very last minute" at 4 am Gulf time, thus hinting towards a truce

June 24, morning

• Israel remains silent publicly
• US officials credit American strikes for forcing diplomacy
• Marco Rubio reiterates the US is open to talks if Iran ends uranium enrichment

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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News world US Enters Iran-Israel War, Claims Ceasefire: 48-Hour Timeline Of Middle East Conflict