In public, Qatar was insisting on the right to defend itself after Iran attacked a U.S. military site in the emirate. Behind the scenes, it was already mediating a truce between Israel and Iran.

President Trump and VP Vance "coordinated at the highest level" with Qatar's emir and premier, a diplomat told Newsweek.

In a 48-hour whirlwind, President Donald Trump went from elated to indignant to triumphant as the fragile Israel-Iran ceasefire agreement came together, teetered toward collapse and ultimately coalesced.