US President Donald Trump has backed a two-week ceasefire with Iran in a dramatic late shift, coming less than two hours before a deadline he had set for Tehran, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump had warned that failure to comply with his demands, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz, could lead to devastating attacks, even claiming that ‘a whole civilisation will die tonight’ if no deal was reached.
The sudden agreement, announced on social media, marks a sharp turnaround and is dependent on Iran halting its blockade of the key waterway, which carries roughly a fifth of the world’s oil shipments.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who played a role in brokering the pause in fighting, confirmed he has invited both the US and Iranian delegations to Islamabad for talks scheduled for Friday.
Iran signalled its willingness to de-escalate, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stating that Tehran would stop counter-attacks and ensure safe passage through the strait.
‘This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!’ Trump posted, adding that military objectives had already been achieved and that discussions around a longer-term peace deal were well advanced.
While Washington framed the move as a strategic success, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council claimed the agreement as its own victory, suggesting the US had accepted its terms to end hostilities.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back on that narrative, saying the pressure applied by Trump and the US military had forced Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with negotiations set to continue.
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The ceasefire also appears to include Israel, with US officials confirming it has agreed to pause its bombing campaign against Iran, alongside a halt to operations in Lebanon.
However, uncertainty remains over when the ceasefire will fully take effect, with reports indicating that hostilities could continue until the strait is officially reopened.
Shortly after the announcement, tensions were still evident as Israeli forces detected missiles launched from Iran, while explosions from interceptions were heard in Tel Aviv.
Several Gulf nations, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, responded by issuing alerts and activating air defence systems.
The conflict, now in its sixth week, has resulted in more than 5 000 deaths across nearly a dozen countries, including over 1 600 civilians in Iran, according to government and human rights figures.
Despite the fragile situation, markets reacted positively to the news, with US stock futures climbing and oil prices dropping sharply to their lowest levels since late March, reflecting cautious optimism around a potential easing of tensions.
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Picture: Evan Vucci / Gallo Images
