War in the Middle East: The United States and Iran Agree to a Two

US and Iran agree to two-week ceasefire

• The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire in exchange for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
• The announcement came just over an hour before Donald Trump’s ultimatum expired, threatening to destroy the Islamic Republic.
• The American president told AFP on Tuesday that the US had achieved a “total and complete victory.”

A sudden turn of events in the middle of the night. The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, just over an hour before the expiration of Donald Trump’s ultimatum that threatened to destroy the Islamic Republic.

After more than five weeks of Israeli-American strikes on Iran, Tehran announced on Wednesday, April 8, that talks will begin on Friday with Washington. These discussions will take place in Pakistan, a mediator in the Middle East conflict.

“After discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan, during which they asked me to suspend the planned military intervention against Iran tonight, and provided that the Islamic Republic of Iran agrees to the TOTAL, IMMEDIATE, and SECURE opening of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend bombings and attacks against Iran for a period of two weeks,” wrote the American president on his Truth Social platform.

“Total and complete victory” according to Trump

The last in a series of ultimatums issued by Donald Trump to Iran and repeatedly postponed, gave Tehran until 8:00 p.m. Washington time (GMT midnight) to reopen the strategic maritime passage, through which 20% of the world’s oil passed before the war. “This will be a reciprocal CEASEFIRE!” added Donald Trump, who stated that the United States had “already achieved and surpassed all our military objectives” since the American-Israeli strikes began on February 28.

He also mentioned “very advanced” discussions for a “long-term” peace agreement with Iran. Tehran has put forward “a 10-point proposal” that “constitutes a viable basis for negotiation”. According to Iranian media, Tehran’s plan includes Washington accepting uranium enrichment and the lifting of all sanctions.

The American president then told AFP on Tuesday that the United States had achieved a “total and complete victory” by concluding a two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran. “A total and complete victory. 100%. There is no doubt about it,” Donald Trump asserted in a brief interview after the announcement of the agreement.

Iranian leaders have confirmed that they agreed to reopen “for a period of two weeks” the Strait of Hormuz “if attacks on Iran cease,” wrote Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

“It was decided at the highest level that Iran will engage, for a period of two weeks (…), in negotiations with the American side in Islamabad,” added the Supreme National Security Council in a statement.

“It is specified that this does not mean the end of the war, and Iran will only accept the cessation of hostilities when” negotiations have succeeded, he added, noting that these two weeks could be extended “in agreement with both parties”.