Iran and the United States have agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire, allowing shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for oil and other exports from the Gulf. The agreement comes more than a month after coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iran and follows hours after US President Donald Trump warned that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” if Iran failed to reopen the strait.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has been mediating negotiations, said early Wednesday that the ceasefire is effective immediately. He also indicated that the agreement would extend to Lebanon, where Israel has been engaged in conflict with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
President Trump said he agreed to “suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks” on the condition that Tehran reopens the Strait of Hormuz. Posting on his Truth Social account, Trump said the temporary truce was possible because the US had “already met and exceeded all military objectives.” Earlier, he had threatened that the US could strike Iran “in one night,” a statement condemned by both the United Nations Secretary-General and the Pope.
Iran confirmed that vessels would be allowed safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz under military supervision for the duration of the ceasefire. Tehran also presented a 10-point plan that calls for the cessation of hostilities in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen, the lifting of US sanctions, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and compensation for war-related reconstruction costs. The plan explicitly states that Iran will not seek possession of nuclear weapons and that its gains on the battlefield would be reinforced through political negotiations, according to a statement from Tehran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Israel responded cautiously to the announcement. Sirens sounded in Jerusalem shortly after Trump’s declaration, and the Israel Defense Forces reported intercepting missiles launched from Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel supports the US decision to suspend strikes against Iran but clarified that the ceasefire “does not include Lebanon,” where Israeli ground troops remain active. Netanyahu did not provide details on his involvement in the US decision-making process.
The next stage of negotiations is scheduled for Friday, when delegations from both countries are expected to meet in Islamabad. Pakistan has invited the parties to continue discussions aimed at a conclusive agreement to settle all outstanding disputes. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that in-person talks are under discussion but stressed that “nothing is final until announced by the President or the White House.”
The ceasefire has brought a temporary sense of relief to global markets and energy suppliers, as disruptions to Gulf shipping have contributed to elevated oil and gas prices since the conflict began. Analysts caution, however, that the durability of the truce remains uncertain, and regional tensions could continue to influence shipping and energy flows.
