U.S., Iran agree to two-week cease-fire before Trump deadline

by · UPI

April 7 (UPI) -- The United States and Iran reached a two-week cease-fire Tuesday evening, less than two hours before President Donald Trump's deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face catastrophic consequences.

Trump announced the Pakistan-mediated cease-fire on his Truth Social platform at 6:32 p.m. EDT, saying he had agreed to halt attacks on Iran for two weeks on the condition that Tehran reopen the strategic waterway.

"This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump wrote in the statement.

Both Iran and the United States claimed victory, with Trump saying U.S. military objectives had already been met and Iran's Supreme National Security Council congratulating the Iranian people in a statement carried by state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting for defending their nation against "aggressive enemies."

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The two sides were engaged in talks Tuesday, seeking a deal ahead of Trump's 8 p.m. EDT deadline.

Trump had threatened Iran since mid-March with widespread destruction unless it reopened the Strait of Hormuz. The trade route has been closed since March 1, threatening to plunge numerous countries into an energy crisis and driving up U.S. gas prices.

The deadline was repeatedly extended as Trump signaled progress in negotiations. But earlier Tuesday, using his most bellicose language to date, Trump warned that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again," unless Iran agreed to a deal.

"This is a victory for the United States that President Trump and our incredible military made happen," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

"The success of our military created maximum leverage, allowing President Trump and the team to engage in tough negotiations that have now created an opening for a diplomatic solution and long-term peace."

The Iranian government listed the requirements of the deal, which include that Iran will continue to control the Strait of Hormuz, all sanctions will be lifted from Iran, the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region, cessation of war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and "payment of compensation to Iran," among others.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Trump had accepted Tehran's 10-point proposal as a general framework. Iran had earlier rejected a 15-point plan from Washington.

Trump called Iran's plan "a workable basis" for continued negotiations, saying most points of contention had been agreed to and the two-week period "will allow for the Agreement to be finalized and consummated."

Araghchi said Iran will allow safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week period, though transit will be coordinated with the Iranian military and in consideration of unspecified limitations.

"If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations," Araghchi said in a statement on behalf of the Supreme National Security Council.

Pakistan has acted as mediator in the negotiations process. After Trump's threat on Tuesday, Islamabad's prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, took to social media to state he had "earnestly" asked Trump to extend his deadline by two weeks and for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz during the pause "as a goodwill gesture."

"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," he said.

After the cease-fire was announced, Sharif celebrated online and invited delegations from both nations to Islamabad on Friday to further negotiations.

"Both parties have displayed remarkable wisdom and understanding," he said.

The war began on Feb. 28 when the United States and Israel launched joint attacks against Iran, which retaliated by targeting U.S. allies and bases throughout the region.

Late Tuesday, Israel announced it supported Trump's decision and would abide by the cease-fire, though it said the agreement does not apply to Lebanon, where the Israeli military has been targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah.

That position contradicted the earlier statement from Sharif, who said the agreement included Lebanon.