President Donald Trump has announced a two-week suspension of US military attacks on Iran, backing down from his own deadline to strike if Iran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has accepted the ceasefire, with both sides set to begin talks on Friday.
Trump announced the 'double-sided ceasefire' on his Truth Social platform, saying the pause came after conversations with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, and was conditional on Iran immediately opening the strait. 'I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,' Trump wrote.
Iran has since accepted the ceasefire, with Iranian state media reporting that talks between the two countries would begin on Friday in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. Iranian state TV declared Trump had accepted Iran's terms for ending the war, framing it as a 'humiliating retreat' by the US president.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: 'The truth is that President Trump and our powerful military got Iran to agree to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and negotiations will continue.' A statement from Iran's Supreme National Security Council said it had won a major victory by forcing the US to accept its 10-point plan.
Iran also said it would guarantee passage for maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, but with conditions. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on social media: 'For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.'
Despite the announcement, Israel's military said Iran had fired missiles towards Israel moments after Trump declared the pause, with blasts heard in Jerusalem and Jericho. Former US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro said Trump's move was the 'only plausible way to avoid an escalation that could have unleashed massive destruction.'
