The U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire announced by President Donald Trump on Truth Social, contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Trump wrote the ceasefire was a "double sided CEASEFIRE" because the U.S. had "already met and exceeded all Military objectives," and called Iran’s 10-point peace proposal a "workable basis on which to negotiate." The deal, mediated by Pakistan, was announced late Tuesday, just hours before Trump’s deadline for Iran to reopen the strait or face devastating strikes.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed the agreement, stating: _"If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces." The country is reportedly charging a toll before each vessel can sail through the strait, paid in bitcoin to bypass US-imposed sanctions.
Iran pointed out the ceasefire included Lebanon, but Israel and the U.S. rejected this, with Trump calling Lebanon a "separate skirmish." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the ceasefire did not cover Lebanon, where as part of its 'Operation Eternal Darkness,' Israel launched over 160 strikes in 10 minutes, killing at least 254 people and injuring 1,165, according to Lebanon’s Civil Defense.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the U.S. and Israel of violating the ceasefire, citing three breaches: continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon, an alleged drone incursion into Iranian airspace (a Hermes-900 drone shot down in Fars province), and U.S. refusal to accept Iran’s right to uranium enrichment.
Iran temporarily closed the Strait of Hormuz again in response to the Lebanon strikes, threatening the deal’s stability. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif initially claimed the ceasefire applied "everywhere including Lebanon," but the U.S. and Israel contradicted this, with Vice President JD Vance stating Iran had "misunderstood" the terms.
Peace talks are scheduled to begin in Islamabad on Saturday.
Meanwhile early Thurday, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "All U.S. Ships, Aircraft, and Military Personnel, with additional Ammunition, Weaponry, and anything else that is appropriate and necessary for the lethal prosecution and destruction of an already substantially degraded Enemy, will remain in place in, and around, Iran, until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with. If for any reason it is not, which is highly unlikely, then the "Shootin' Starts," bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before. It was agreed, a long time ago, and despite all of the fake rhetoric to the contrary - NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS and, the Strait of Hormuz WILL BE OPEN & SAFE. In the meantime our great Military is Loading Up and Resting, looking forward, actually, to its next Conquest. AMERICA IS BACK!"
