President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a conditional two-week ceasefire with Iran, stepping back from earlier threats of devastating military action if the country failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The ceasefire, Trump said, depends on Iran agreeing to the “complete, immediate, and safe” reopening of the vital shipping route. Iranian officials, speaking anonymously, indicated that Tehran had accepted the deal, which was brokered through mediation led by Pakistan.
Trump stated that the decision followed the United States’ achievement of its military objectives and significant progress toward a broader peace agreement. The announcement came shortly before a self-imposed deadline for Iran to allow unrestricted passage through the strait or face intensified attacks on key infrastructure.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had earlier appealed for a two-week extension to allow diplomacy to advance, urging both sides to observe a temporary ceasefire while negotiations continue. Ongoing talks, involving Pakistan and other countries, have also explored a longer 45-day truce.
Iran has reportedly proposed a 10-point peace plan, including the introduction of tolls on commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief from Washington, and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Middle East, demands likely to face resistance. The proposal does not address uranium enrichment, a central issue in the conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would respect the ceasefire but clarified that operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon would continue.
The ceasefire announcement followed a sharp escalation in rhetoric and military activity. Hours earlier, Trump had warned that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran failed to comply, drawing widespread condemnation. Among critics was Pope Leo XIV, who described such threats as “truly unacceptable.”
In the lead-up to the deadline, U.S. and Israeli forces carried out coordinated strikes across Iran, targeting oil facilities, bridges, and rail infrastructure. Iranian state media reported civilian casualties, while Tehran vowed to respond forcefully to any further attacks.
Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain high across the region. Iran launched missiles and drones toward U.S.-allied Gulf states, with incidents reported in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.
Meanwhile, an Iran-linked militia, Kataib Hezbollah, announced it would release a kidnapped American journalist in Baghdad, citing the evolving political situation.
Although the two-week truce offers a temporary pause in hostilities, it remains uncertain whether it will lead to a lasting resolution in a conflict that has already claimed thousands of lives and destabilized the wider Middle East.
(Miami Herald)
