Donald Trump backs down and agrees to ceasefire with Iran

Trump agreed to the ceasefire subject to the safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz - after threatening to commit genocide against the country earlier in the day

Donald Trump backed down from his threat to completely destroy Iran last night, agreeing to a two week ceasefire to allow talks to progress.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump wrote: "Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.

"This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East.

"We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate. Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this Longterm problem close to resolution. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Earlier, Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan's Prime Minister, asked Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks to allow peace talks to progress - and for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz in the meantime.

"Diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future," he wrote.

"To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks."

The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the post.

"Pakistan, in all sincerity, requests the Iranian brothers to open the Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture," he added.

"We also urge all warring parties to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks to allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region."

But an early draft of the tweet, apparently posted accidentally, introduced it as "Draft - Pakistan's PM Message on X" - leading to suspicion the message had been suggested or co-ordinated by another country.