A fragile pause in hostilities appears to be taking shape between United States (US) and Iran, following an agreement on a conditional two-week ceasefire tied to the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The development comes weeks after coordinated strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel, and just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” if the waterway remained closed.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, who has been mediating talks, confirmed early Wednesday that the ceasefire had taken effect immediately.
What both sides are saying
Trump said Washington agreed to suspend further military action for two weeks, provided Tehran allows safe passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz; a critical route for global oil shipments.
In a post, he claimed the U.S. had already achieved its military objectives, describing the pause as a strategic move rather than a concession.
Iran, on its part, confirmed it would permit shipping through the strait during the period, with movements coordinated by its military. However, Tehran also rolled out a broader 10-point proposal that goes far beyond the ceasefire.
The demands include a complete halt to conflicts across the region covering Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen as well as the lifting of sanctions, release of frozen assets, and compensation for war-related damages.
Iran also stated it would not pursue nuclear weapons, while insisting that any military gains must translate into political advantage at the negotiation table.
Israel’s position remains cautious
Shortly after the announcement, tensions appeared far from settled. Air raid sirens reportedly sounded across parts of Israel, with the military confirming missile interceptions.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel supports Trump’s decision but only under strict conditions, including an immediate halt to attacks against Israel and its allies.
He made it clear, however, that the ceasefire does not extend to operations in Lebanon, where Israeli forces are still engaged against Hezbollah.
What happens next?
Pakistan has invited both sides to Islamabad for further talks aimed at reaching a more permanent resolution, though officials say nothing has been finalised yet.
Despite the temporary pause, the road ahead looks uncertain. The U.S. and Iran appear to have differing interpretations of the agreement, and past negotiations between both sides have often broken down, sometimes triggering fresh escalations.
For now, the ceasefire offers a brief window of calm but whether it leads to lasting peace remains to be seen.
