A two-week ceasefire has been agreed upon by the United States and Iran, taking effect shortly before a Wednesday deadline for potential military action against Iran, previously indicated by US President Donald Trump. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed its conditional acceptance of the truce, contingent on a halt to attacks against its territory.
As part of the agreement, Iran’s foreign minister announced that passage through the critical Strait of Hormuz would be permitted for the next two weeks, managed by Iranian military forces. Further negotiations between the US and Iran to finalize agreement details are scheduled to begin in Islamabad on Friday, April 10. Iranian state media, however, cautioned that these discussions do not signify an end to the broader conflict.
The scope of the ceasefire has seen immediate contention. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a central figure in diplomatic efforts, stated that the agreement encompassed all fronts, including Lebanon. This was swiftly disputed by Israel, whose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified that operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon were not part of the ceasefire. Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon continued even after the temporary halt in US-Iran hostilities was proposed.
US President Trump mentioned that Iran had put forward a “workable” 10-point peace plan. According to Iranian state media, this proposal includes conditions such as Iranian military coordination for transit through the Strait of Hormuz, the withdrawal of all US forces from regional bases, and the lifting of all sanctions against Iran. It also demands compensation, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and acceptance of Iran’s uranium enrichment program, some of which the US has previously rejected. Despite the ceasefire announcement, missile alerts continued in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Israel.
The provisional ceasefire has been welcomed by numerous nations globally, including Australia, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, with many expressing hopes for a lasting peace.
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