A two-week halt in the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran appeared to be holding on Wednesday, the morning after President Donald Trump abandoned his threat to wipe out “a whole civilization” and granted an extension for diplomacy to continue, just 90 minutes before his 8 p.m. self-imposed deadline.
Trump, posting on social media, said that he had agreed to suspend plans for massive strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure and bridges on the condition that Iran agree to “the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz,” a vital passageway for about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.
Israel said it supported Trump’s decision, according to a brief statement published overnight by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but that temporary truce did not include Hezbollah, the Iranian backed militant group that Israel has been fighting in southern Lebanon with increasing ferocity.
The Israeli military on Wednesday morning issued new evacuation orders to residents of southern Lebanon, indicating plans to step up military operations.
Following Trump’s announcement, Iran issued a statement citing Trump’s “acceptance of the general Framework of Iran’s 10-point proposal for negotiations” and said that for two weeks “safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination” with the Iranian military.
Iranian state media and broadcasters aired footage of Iranians, including officials, gathering in public squares in Tehran overnight, waving flags and raising fists, to celebrate what their leaders described as a national triumph.
With Washington and Tehran each claiming victory, the agreement raised the prospect of some respite after nearly six weeks of bombing and other attacks, which have killed nearly 1,500 civilians in Iran and dozens more in the region. But major obstacles remain in any effort to achieve a durable peace accord.
While an Israeli-led assassination campaign has killed many senior political and military leaders in Iran, officials and analysts say that hard-liners remain fully in control of the government in Tehran.
Trump on Tuesday called the 10-point proposal formulated by Tehran a “workable basis on which to negotiate,” but it includes terms on which the U.S. has refused to budge, including allowing Iran’s nuclear enrichment activities.
Trump, meanwhile, has also claimed U.S. military and diplomatic success, insisting that “regime change” has been accomplished in Tehran and that he agreed to pause attacks because the United States “already met and exceeded all Military objectives” and is “far along” in the process of finding long-term peace.
Some U.S. officials and analysts have said Trump’s claims of military success are largely based on overly optimistic assessments of the war by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, which risk misinforming the public.
Iranian and U.S. leaders credited Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and military chief Gen. Asim Munir, whose government has been serving as mediator, in the push for a negotiated end to the increasingly dangerous and damaging war, which has led to spikes in energy prices and disruptions of global supply chains.
Sharif said the delegations were invited to Islamabad on Friday to continue negotiations.
But the continuing differences were evident in statements after the halt in attacks was announced.
Trump on Tuesday said “almost all of the various points of past contention” have been agreed to between the two parties.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, meanwhile, congratulated Iranians, saying “the enemy had suffered an undeniable, historic, and crushing defeat,” according to Iran’s state-run agency IRNA.
Late last month, Washington advanced a 15-point proposal aimed at ending the war, with demands that included the removal of all Iran’s enriched uranium material, limits on Tehran’s ballistic missile program and the cessation of support to militant groups in the region including Hezbollah.
As recently as Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called those stipulations “excessively demanding, unreasonable, and illogical.”
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said the U.S. was “compelled” to accept its 10-point framework, which it said included accepting Iran’s nuclear enrichment activities, recognizing Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, lifting sanctions and halting hostilities “across all fronts.”
Apart from military concerns, Trump has his own reasons for wanting to bring an end to the war, including the near-doubling of gasoline prices in the U.S. and a falling approval rating as midterm elections near. Stock futures surged and oil prices plunged following the ceasefire announcement.
Trump’s threat to wipe out “a whole civilization” had raised alarm about a potentially devastating escalation in military attacks, perhaps even a threat of nuclear war. The White House on Tuesday swiftly dismissed those suggestions, saying that the use of nuclear weapons was not under consideration.
Several leaders, including Pope Leo XIV, and some members of Congress had reacted with dismay at the threat against an entire nation of some 93 million people.
Leaders across the Middle East, whose countries have been caught up in the destabilizing war, welcomed the pause in fighting on Wednesday and thanked Pakistan for its mediation.
Many European leaders also commended parties on reaching a temporary deal, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling it a “very good thing” and the European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, calling it “a step back from the brink” and a “much-needed chance to tone down threats.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who has led opposition to the war in Europe, reiterated his frustration, saying that while ceasefires are “always good news,” Spain’s government “will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket.”
After the ceasefire announcement Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid, posting on X, lamented Israel’s lack of involvement in Trump’s decision: “There has never been such a political disaster in all of our history.” Lapid said Israel “wasn’t even at the table” when decisions were made about Israel’s national security.
“Netanyahu failed politically, failed strategically, and didn’t meet a single one of the goals that he himself set,” said Lapid.
The post Halt in strikes appears to hold after Trump, Iran agree to 2-week ceasefire appeared first on Washington Post.
