US and Iran agree to two-week ceasefire, both declare victory

The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire just an hour before a deadline set by US President Donald Trump to launch a devastating attack on the Middle East country. In return, Tehran announced the temporary reopening of the key shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, the Guardian reports.

Both sides declared victory in the month-long standoff that has rocked global financial markets and sent oil prices soaring. Trump told AFP that the deal was a complete and total victory for the United States.

Iran also presented the ceasefire as a success, announcing the start of negotiations with Washington in Islamabad, which are scheduled to begin on Friday, April 10, with the aim of ending the conflict.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council announced that "the enemy suffered an undeniable, historic and heavy defeat in its cowardly, illegal and criminal war against the Iranian people," adding that Iran had achieved a great victory.

The White House said Israel had also agreed to the ceasefire, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that it did not include Lebanon, where Israeli attacks in response to rocket fire by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah have killed more than 1.500 people, according to Lebanese authorities.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council said it had accepted a two-week ceasefire, on the condition that attacks on Iran be halted.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be made possible over the next two weeks, with the Iranian military managing it.

Iranian state media reports that talks with the US will be held in Islamabad to finalize the agreement, with the aim of “confirming Iran's achievements on the battlefield.” The talks are set to begin on April 10 and could be extended, noting that they do not mean a formal end to the war.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Iran, the US and their allies had agreed to an immediate ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, and called on delegations to gather in Islamabad for further negotiations on a final agreement.

Netanyahu reiterated that Israel welcomes the ceasefire, but that fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon is not part of it.

Trump said Iran had proposed a workable 10-point peace plan, CNN reported. According to Iranian state media, the plan includes conditions that Washington had previously rejected, including controlled passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the Iranian armed forces, as well as the withdrawal of all US troops from regional bases.

The plan also calls for the lifting of all sanctions, the payment of full compensation to Iran, and the unfreezing of Iranian assets.

Iranian media also report that the plan implies that the US accepts Iran's uranium enrichment program, which was previously a red line for the Trump administration.

Despite the announcement of a ceasefire, warnings of rocket attacks continued this morning in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Israel.

"I agree to suspend bombings and attacks on Iran for two weeks," Trump said last night on his Twitter platform, just over an hour before the ultimatum expired, after talks with Pakistani mediators who proposed such an initiative.

According to him, the decision was made after discussions with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir.

"Based on those discussions, and provided that the Islamic Republic of Iran agrees to the full, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz, I am agreeing to a two-week ceasefire. It will be a bilateral ceasefire," Trump said.

He added that the United States has already met and exceeded all military objectives and is moving towards a long-term peace agreement with Iran and stability in the Middle East.

Trump also said that Washington had received Iran's 10-point proposal, which he sees as a basis for negotiations.

"Almost all the points of contention have been agreed upon, and this period will allow for the finalization of the agreement," the US president said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif had earlier called on all parties to the conflict to accept a two-week ceasefire to allow diplomacy to find a path to ending the war, CNN reported.

In addition to Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are also mentioned as mediators.

During the evening, before the ultimatum expired, US airstrikes hit two bridges and a train station in Iran, while, according to the Associated Press, military facilities on the island of Kharg, a key oil hub, were also targeted.

Washington's threats were condemned yesterday by United Nations leaders, as well as Pope Leo XIV.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be allowed for the next two weeks, under the supervision of the Iranian military and on the condition of a complete cessation of US-Israeli attacks.

He also stated that Iran is ready for negotiations with the US in Islamabad.

White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt described the ceasefire as a victory for the United States, noting that military objectives were achieved in 38 days and that this opened the way for a diplomatic solution.

Trump also said in a statement to AFP that he believed China had a role in encouraging Iran to negotiate.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington said that the country is working to achieve a ceasefire and end the conflict, emphasizing that it supports all efforts towards peace.

The US president did not specify whether he would carry out earlier threats if Iran violated the deal.

He added that the US side would help regulate traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and support Iran's reconstruction.

After the ceasefire was announced, Iranian authorities announced that they would suspend defensive operations if the attacks stopped, and that the military would coordinate safe passage through the strait.

Iran's supreme security body announced that almost all war objectives had been achieved, but warned that any violation of the ceasefire would be met with full force.

Trump, however, rejected Tehran's claims of victory, calling them a hoax, and accused CNN of spreading false information.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced that Lebanon was not included in the two-week ceasefire, despite earlier claims by Pakistan.

Israel supported the US decision to temporarily halt attacks, on the condition that Iran immediately open the strait and cease all attacks on the US, Israel, and countries in the region.