Trump Backs Down, Agrees to Two-Week Ceasefire with Iran
In a dramatic reversal, former US President Donald Trump has agreed to a temporary ceasefire with Iran, suspending military action for two weeks. This decision comes after he had earlier threatened to commit genocide against the country, marking a significant de-escalation in tensions.
Ceasefire Terms and Pakistan's Crucial Role
The ceasefire is conditional upon the safe and immediate opening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route. Trump announced this via a post on Truth Social, citing conversations with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir. They had requested a delay in the planned destructive force against Iran to allow diplomatic efforts to progress.
Trump stated, "Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks."
Diplomatic Progress and Long-Term Peace Prospects
According to Trump, the ceasefire is bilateral and aims to finalize a long-term peace agreement with Iran, which he claims is already far along. He mentioned receiving a 10-point proposal from Iran that serves as a workable basis for negotiations, with most past contentious issues reportedly agreed upon.
Trump added, "This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East."
Pakistan's Mediation and Suspicious Draft Tweet
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had publicly urged Trump to extend the deadline by two weeks to enable peace talks and for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz as a goodwill gesture. He emphasized that diplomatic efforts were progressing steadily and could lead to substantive results soon.
However, suspicions arose when an early draft of Sharif's message was accidentally posted on social media, labeled as "Draft - Pakistan's PM Message on X". This has led to speculation that the message might have been suggested or coordinated by another country, though no evidence has been provided.
The White House has not immediately responded to inquiries about Trump's post, leaving the official US stance unclear. Meanwhile, Sharif called on all warring parties to observe the ceasefire to achieve a conclusive end to the conflict, promoting regional stability.
