In a dramatic development after days of escalating hostilities, the United States and Iran agreed on Wednesday to a two-week ceasefire aimed at halting a widening West Asia conflict and creating space for negotiations.
US President Donald Trump announced the suspension of planned military strikes against Iran, calling the pause a “double-sided ceasefire” intended to pave the way for a longer-term agreement. He said the halt is “subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz,” and that the two-week pause would allow a negotiated deal to be finalized. Trump added that the US had already “met and exceeded all military objectives.”
Tehran confirmed a ceasefire framework soon after. Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Iran would stop its defensive operations if attacks ceased and pledged to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks in coordination with Iranian forces. Araghchi thanked Pakistani mediators, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir, for their role in bringing the sides together.
Pakistan invited US and Iranian delegations to Islamabad for talks scheduled for April 10 to seek a conclusive agreement to settle disputes. Chinese, Pakistani, Turkish and Egyptian intermediaries were reported to have played roles in nudging Tehran toward a truce.
The agreement marks the first significant pause in open hostilities since the confrontation intensified, drawing in Gulf states and disrupting global energy flows. The planned reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — a conduit for about a fifth of the world’s oil — is expected to ease immediate pressure on energy markets, though analysts warned the situation remains fragile and any breach could quickly reignite violence.
Worldwide reactions and related developments
– France: President Emmanuel Macron said about 15 countries, under French leadership, are mobilised to plan a strictly defensive mission, coordinated with Iran, to facilitate the resumption of traffic through the strait.
– UN: Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the ceasefire. A separate UN Security Council resolution urging coordination to protect shipping in the strait was vetoed by China and Russia, who called it biased against Iran.
– Israel: A White House official said Israel has agreed to the ceasefire, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified Wednesday that the deal does not cover fighting in Lebanon. Israel continued strikes in southern Lebanon and issued evacuation orders for parts of Tyre. Netanyahu’s office said Israel supports US efforts to remove Iran’s nuclear and missile threats.
– Hezbollah: Lebanon’s Hezbollah paused fire on northern Israel and Israeli troops in Lebanon under the US-Iran ceasefire, according to Lebanese sources. The group was expected to issue a formal position on whether it accepts the arrangement given Netanyahu’s exclusion of Lebanon.
– Regional and global markets: Oil prices fell below $100 a barrel, stocks and bonds rose, and the dollar weakened as investors bet on eased supply risks. Asian and Hong Kong markets rallied on improved sentiment.
– Economic and maritime logistics: President Trump said the US would assist with the buildup of shipping through the strait. South Korea said it would press for the release of ships held in the waterway and work to restore passage for its vessels.
Key points and outstanding issues
– Iran’s 10-point proposal: Trump said Iran’s 10-point plan provided a “workable basis” for a final agreement, though earlier he had called the plan “fraudulent” without elaboration. Reports noted differences between English and Farsi versions of Iran’s plan; the Farsi version reportedly included the phrase “acceptance of enrichment” for its nuclear programme, absent in English texts.
– Terms and enforcement: While both sides presented willingness to halt offensive operations, details on monitoring, enforcement, and timelines remain to be finalised. Diplomatic sources said the fortnight ahead is critical to negotiate a broader framework addressing security, regional influence, sanctions relief and frozen assets.
– Continued clashes: Despite the ceasefire announcement, missile alerts and some strikes were reported early Wednesday in the UAE, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait, reflecting chaotic conditions as diplomatic moves unfolded. The US said it halted offensive operations against Iran but continued defensive actions.
– Domestic reactions in Iran: Pro-government demonstrators in Tehran expressed outrage at the US and Israel after the ceasefire news, chanting and burning flags. Organisers attempted to calm crowds, but anti-Western slogans persisted.
– Wider regional pauses: Iraq’s Iran-aligned armed factions said they would suspend operations for two weeks, aligning with the US-Iran pause. Several countries, including Indonesia, welcomed the ceasefire and urged respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
What’s next
Negotiations are expected to begin in Islamabad, with Pakistan facilitating talks between US and Iranian delegations. The coming two weeks will test whether the ceasefire can be translated into durable arrangements on nuclear activity, missile capabilities, sanctions, and security guarantees — and whether regional actors can coordinate to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and shipping moving safely.
By Ujwal Jalali
