U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that the newly brokered cease-fire between Iran and Israel achieved through his administration’s diplomatic efforts is more than just a temporary pause, describing it as a potentially lasting peace accord.

In a phone interview with NBC News on Monday night, Trump stated confidently:

“I think the cease-fire is unlimited. It’s going to go forever.”

Trump called the development a major geopolitical victory, citing its significance for both regional stability and American leadership on the world stage.

“It’s a great day for America. It’s a great day for the Middle East. I’m very happy to have been able to get the job done. A lot of people were dying, and it was only going to get worse. It would have brought the whole Middle East down.”

The agreement marks a rare and unprecedented moment in modern diplomacy, representing the first time a U.S.-led initiative has directly de-escalated hostilities between two of the region’s most ideologically and militarily opposed powers.

Trump went even further, asserting:

“I don’t think Israel and Iran will ever be shooting at each other again.”

Behind the Scenes of a High-Stakes Deal

According to senior administration officials, Trump personally engaged in direct negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a series of high-stakes discussions aimed at halting the rapidly intensifying conflict.

In parallel, a complex web of diplomacy unfolded behind closed doors. Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and special envoy Steve Witkoff led efforts to engage Iranian intermediaries through a combination of direct talks and backchannel diplomacy.

The cease-fire agreement reportedly stipulates that both Iran and Israel will begin a full cessation of all military activities including airstrikes, covert operations, and cyber warfare by midnight ET on Tuesday.

Trump announced the breakthrough on Truth Social, attributing the success to what he described as “American strength and smart diplomacy.” He added that the agreement could reshape the legacy of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.

From Escalation to De-escalation

The deal follows weeks of tit-for-tat escalations, including drone attacks, cyber offensives, and sabotage operations carried out by both nations across the region. Fears among global analysts had mounted that the conflict could spiral into a full-blown regional war involving Hezbollah, Syria, Gulf states, and potentially American assets.

Trump’s intervention, then, is not just a diplomatic success but a high-stakes gamble that has, at least for now, paid off.

Cautious Optimism

While the cease-fire is being celebrated as a diplomatic milestone, foreign policy experts warn that lasting peace will require far more than a singular agreement. Sustainable stability will depend on long-term structural reforms, mechanisms for trust-building, and robust third-party verification of compliance.

Whether this cease-fire truly “goes forever,” as Trump predicts, remains uncertain. The deep-rooted geopolitical and ideological rifts between Iran and Israel, built over four decades of tension, are unlikely to dissolve overnight no matter how historic the agreement may be.