Related videos:
The president Donald Trump announced this Tuesday the suspension of bombings against Iran for a period of two weeks, conditional on Tehran agreeing to the complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump posted the announcement on Truth Social at 4:32 PM on Tuesday, hours before a deadline that threatened to destroy electric plants, bridges, and Iranian oil wells.
"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan, who urged me to stop the destructive force that would be sent tonight to Iran, and provided that the Islamic Republic of Iran agrees to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE opening of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack on Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a BILATERAL ceasefire!"
Trump added that the United States had met and exceeded all military objectives set since the beginning of operations against the Iranian nuclear program, according to Fox News.
The intervention of the Pakistani Prime Minister was decisive. According to sources close to the negotiations, Sharif urged Trump firmly, with strength and authority, to grant an extension that would allow for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
The U.S. and Israeli military campaign had destroyed Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow, striking at the heart of Tehran's atomic program within days.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran had collapsed naval traffic by 97%, creating an unprecedented global energy crisis and driving up oil prices in international markets.
The diplomatic situation had been confusing in the days leading up to this. Trump had asserted that the peace talks were very real and gaining momentum, while the Iranian regime labelled those statements as false and unfounded.
The two-week deadline set by Trump leaves open the possibility of resuming military operations if Iran does not comply with the condition of fully and verifiably reopening the strait.
Filed under: