In just a few hours, the Middle East has gone from an open threat of full-scale escalation to a temporary lull. After U.S. President Donald Trump threatened catastrophic attacks on Iran – including strikes on bridges, power plants and other civilian infrastructure – and issued an ultimatum to Tehran with the dramatic message that “an entire civilization will die”, the situation took a sharp turn.
The U.S. president, after talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the country’s military leadership, announced that he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Iran, provided that Tehran agrees to the full and safe opening of the Hormuz Strait. At the same time, he said that U.S. military objectives have already been “met and exceeded” and that a “feasible” ten-point Iranian peace plan is on the table, which he sees as the basis for a final agreement.
Under the ceasefire deal, Iran retains control of the Strait of Hormuz, with the right to continue collecting transit fees. Iran’s 10-point plan, which Trump himself says is the basis for a solution, also calls for the lifting of sanctions, the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the region, and Iran’s right to continue enriching uranium.
Tehran called Washington’s sudden change of course a historic victory for Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be possible in the next two weeks, but only in coordination with the Iranian armed forces and “with due respect for technical limitations.”
Meanwhile, the diplomatic process is moving rapidly towards Islamabad, where, with the mediation of Pakistan, negotiations to finalize the agreement are set to begin.
