US President Donald Trump and Iran have announced a two-week suspension of military action as well as the opening of the Strait of Hormuz following discussions with Pakistani leaders.
Trump said that after conversations with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, he agreed to halt planned strikes, contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz “completely, immediately, and safely.”
“I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double sided ceasefire,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
He noted that US military objectives have already been met and that the two-week pause would allow both sides to finalise a comprehensive agreement.
Earlier on Tuesday, he had warned that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran failed to meet his demands, an inflammatory war rhetoric that triggered backlash worldwide.
Meanwhile, Iran said it would open the Strait of Hormuz in return for the ceasefire to allow negotiations to take place.
Iran’s demands are:
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- Non-aggression against Iran
- Continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz
- Acceptance of Iran’s right to uranium enrichment
- The lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions
- The termination of all UN Security Council and IAEA Board of Governors resolutions against Iran
- Compensation for damages inflicted on Iran
- The withdrawal of US combat forces from the region
- The cessation of war on all fronts, including against the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon
“Iran has achieved a great victory and has forced criminal America to accept its own 10-point proposal,” an IRGC statement read.
“Iran and the Resistance have almost completely destroyed the American military machine in the region,” it stated. “They have inflicted crushing and deep blows on the vast infrastructure and capabilities that the enemy had built and deployed around the region over many years for this war against Iran.”
The statement added that within the occupied territories, Resistance forces had dealt “devastating and crushing blows to the enemy’s forces, infrastructure, facilities, and assets.”
While declaring victory, the top security body also urged continued vigilance.
“We congratulate all the people of Iran on this victory,” the statement read, “and emphasize that until the details of this victory are finalized, there remains a need for the resilience and prudence of officials and the preservation of unity and solidarity among the people of Iran.”
The Strait of Hormuz, which carries approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil, has been effectively blocked by Iran since the US and Israel launched their war against the Islamic Republic of Iran on February 28.
Iranian officials had categorically stated that the strategic waterway will not be reopened unless its demands are met, which include the permanent cessation of US-Israeli attacks.
