Iran and the United States have agreed to a two-week ceasefire following escalating tensions in the region, with both sides signaling willingness to negotiate a longer-term peace deal. The pause in hostilities comes after a U.S.-Israeli strike campaign threatened critical Iranian infrastructure, including power grids and bridges. President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire hours before planned attacks, citing a proposal brokered by Pakistan that would include the controlled opening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council outlined a 10-point ceasefire framework, requiring continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, recognition of its nuclear enrichment program, and the lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions. Other key demands include the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from the Middle East, cessation of attacks on Iran and its allies, release of frozen Iranian assets, and ratification of the agreement under a UN Security Council resolution, which Tehran described as a “significant diplomatic victory.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that the country will suspend defensive operations for the two-week period if the United States and Israel halt their attacks. He emphasized that Iran’s armed forces will oversee the passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route through which nearly a fifth of the world’s energy supplies pass in peacetime, ensuring control remains under Iranian authority.

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Tehran framed the ceasefire as a victory, claiming it had forced the United States to accept the key points of its plan. Iranian officials asserted that their objectives in the conflict, which began with the February 28 U.S.-Israeli strikes, had largely been achieved, and the ceasefire would serve as a precursor to a binding, long-term agreement.

President Trump described Iran’s proposal as “workable” and emphasized that the United States had already met its military objectives. Speaking on Truth Social, he said the agreement represents a step toward long-term peace in the Middle East. Trump also noted that the two-week period allows for finalization of a permanent deal, contingent on Iran ensuring the safe and immediate opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Both sides have framed the temporary halt in hostilities as a pragmatic measure to prevent further escalation while diplomatic channels remain open. Negotiations facilitated by Pakistan aim to resolve lingering disputes and establish a framework for a more stable regional security arrangement, though Tehran has warned that it retains the right to respond if its conditions are not met.

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