Poli Alert Politics & Civics
Related Articles
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday evening that the United States has reached a two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran, stepping back from a looming military strike he had warned could result in the death a “whole civilization.”
“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 long-term peace with Iran, and peace in the Middle East,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate.”
The agreement, which Trump said is contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, came just hours before a self-imposed 8 p.m. Eastern deadline for Tehran to comply or face U.S. strikes on critical infrastructure.
Trump said “almost all” major points of contention between the two countries have been resolved, adding the two-week pause would allow negotiators to finalize a broader agreement.
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes, has been largely closed in recent weeks, driving up fuel prices and intensifying global economic concerns.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi signaled conditional acceptance of the ceasefire, saying Iran would halt its defensive operations if attacks against the country stop.
“For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s armed forces,” Araghchi said in a statement, noting logistical and technical considerations.
The breakthrough followed a public appeal from Shehbaz Sharif, who urged Trump earlier Tuesday to extend the deadline to allow diplomacy to proceed. Sharif said efforts toward a peaceful resolution were “progressing steadily” and could soon yield results.
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Israel has agreed to the temporary ceasefire. A spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington declined to comment.
The announcement marked a dramatic shift after days of escalating rhetoric. Earlier Tuesday, Trump warned that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran failed to reach a deal and had threatened to strike civilian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges.
Those threats drew sharp criticism from Democrats, who called for Congress to intervene and halt what they described as a potential “war of choice.” Some U.S. allies in Europe and the Gulf also expressed concern, saying they had been largely excluded from decision-making during the crisis.
The conflict, which has intensified over the past month, has already involved extensive U.S. and Israeli military operations. According to U.S. Central Command, American forces have struck more than 13,000 targets in Iran, including through “dynamic strikes” aimed at rapidly identified military sites.
The Pentagon has also expanded its list of potential targets to include energy infrastructure serving both civilian and military purposes, a move that raised concerns among legal experts about compliance with international law.
Despite the ceasefire, significant uncertainties remain. It is unclear whether the two-week pause will lead to a lasting agreement or merely delay further military action.
Trump has maintained that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is a central objective and said previously that military operations would continue until the waterway is fully restored to international shipping.
The coming days are expected to test whether diplomatic momentum can hold — or whether the conflict will resume after the temporary truce expires.
