After a month and a half of spiraling conflict in the Middle East, the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday – lower than two hours earlier than US President Donald Trump’s deadline, after which he had promised to wipe out a “whole civilization.”
That menace, which critics warned may very well be a war crime if carried out, seems to have been staved off for now at the eleventh hour. But there stays a gulf between the two international locations, who every portrayed the momentary truce as a victory for his or her nations.
The ceasefire is a place to begin for additional negotiations, and it stays to be seen what ultimate terms could also be included in a proposal to definitively finish a struggle that has upended the Middle East and prompted a historic global oil disruption.
Here’s what we know.
What have the US and Israel mentioned?
Trump introduced the ceasefire in a Truth Social submit, saying it was made on the situation that Iran agree to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz, by which a fifth of the world’s oil flows.
The ceasefire had been mediated by Pakistan’s prime minister and its navy chief, he mentioned. Iran had put forth a 10-point proposal, which the US views as “a workable basis on which to negotiate,” Trump added.
The subsequent two weeks will permit a ultimate settlement to be drawn up, he mentioned.
In an interview with AFP information company Tuesday, Trump described the deal as “total and complete victory.” But he wouldn’t say whether or not he would fulfill his prior threats to destroy Iran’s civilian infrastructure if Tehran reneged on the settlement, solely saying: “You’re going to have to see.”
And in a later Truth Social submit simply previous midnight, he mentioned the US can be “helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz,” including: “Big money will be made.”
US sources informed NCS that the Trump administration is making ready for potential in-person negotiations, possible in Islamabad – the place Pakistan’s prime minister has invited either side to ship delegations.
Israel is an element of the ceasefire and will even droop bombing in opposition to Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned.
But it additionally claimed Lebanon isn’t half of the ceasefire – contradicting Pakistan’s prime minister, who mentioned it was. Trump made no point out of Lebanon in his assertion.
Iran’s international minister, Abbas Araghchi, mentioned that if assaults in opposition to Iran cease, Iranian operations will stop as effectively.
The nation’s navy will coordinate secure passage by the Strait of Hormuz throughout the ceasefire, he added in a submit on X.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that Iran and Oman plan to cost transit charges for vessels passing by the strait throughout the ceasefire, with the funds earmarked for reconstruction. NCS has requested Oman’s international ministry for remark.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the nation’s high safety physique, had a extra fiery assertion – saying it had compelled the US to settle for its 10-point plan. It described the ceasefire as an “enduring defeat” for Washington.
It additionally referenced attainable talks in Islamabad – warning that “should the slightest error be committed by the enemy, it shall be met with full force.”
Araghchi mentioned in his assertion that whereas Washington had accepted the “general framework” of Iran’s 10-point proposal as a “basis for negotiations,” Iran was in flip contemplating a 15-point proposal from the US.
The full particulars of the 15-point US plan haven’t bee revealed however it’s believed to embrace: Iran committing to no nuclear weapons, handing over its extremely enriched uranium, limits on Tehran’s protection capabilities, an finish to regional proxy teams and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Other factors on the desk embrace an acknowledgment of Israel’s proper to exist, the two regional sources mentioned.
Iran had beforehand rejected the 15-point plan, with one official describing the calls for as “largely excessive, unrealistic and unreasonable” on Monday – regardless of Trump claiming in late March that Tehran had agreed to “most of” the factors.
While the White House has not detailed what Iran’s 10-point proposal consists of, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council laid out key elements of the plan.
NCS obtained the assertion from Iranian officers. It was additionally reported on by a number of Iranian state media shops.
It included regulating passage by the Strait of Hormuz; terminating assaults on Iran and its regional proxy forces; the withdrawal of US forces from the area; compensation to Iran; the lifting of worldwide sanctions and unfreezing of belongings; and a binding UN decision to safe any final peace deal.
Versions of the safety council’s assertion that have been broadly distributed by Iranian state media in each Farsi and in English additionally included that the US has agreed in precept to settle for Iran’s proper to nuclear enrichment.
Iran’s embassy in India additionally posted a breakdown of the 10 points on its verified X account that included “acceptance of enrichment”.
NCS has reached out to US officers and Iran’s international’s ministry for additional remark.
In his interview with AFP, Trump mentioned Iran’s uranium can be “perfectly taken care of or I wouldn’t have settled.”