President Donald Trump has declared a temporary halt of U.S. military operations against Iran, stepping back from his initial ultimatum set for 8 PM ET (10 AM AEST). He had previously vowed to target Iranian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, unless Iran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has now consented to the ceasefire, with both nations preparing to engage in negotiations starting Friday.

Trump made the announcement of the “mutual ceasefire” on his Truth Social account, noting that the decision followed discussions with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and military leader Field Marshal Asim Munir. This pause hinges on Iran’s immediate action to open the strait.

“I have chosen to halt the bombing and offensive against Iran for a two-week period,” Trump stated. “This represents a mutual CEASEFIRE!”

“The rationale behind this decision is that we have already achieved and surpassed all military goals, and substantial progress has been made toward a definitive long-term peace agreement with Iran, aiming for stability in the Middle East,” he continued.

“We have received a 10-point proposal from Iran, which we consider a viable framework for negotiation. Most of the longstanding issues between the United States and Iran have been addressed, and this two-week window will provide an opportunity to finalize and implement the Agreement.”

“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.”

Two White House officials confirmed that Israel has also agreed to the two-week ceasefire and to suspend its bombing campaign on Iran, the Reuters news agency reported.

The agreement includes a cessation of Israel’s campaign in Lebanon, said Sharif, who helped mediate the ceasefire.

What could happen in the Strait of Hormuz?

Iran has since accepted the ceasefire, with Iranian state media reporting that talks between the two countries would begin on Friday in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.

Iranian state TV declared Trump had accepted Iran’s terms for ending the war, framing it as a “humiliating retreat” by the US president.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “The truth is that President Trump and our powerful military got Iran to agree to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and negotiations will continue.”

A statement from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said it had won a major victory by forcing the US to accept its 10-point plan.

However, Iranian state media cautioned that the talks “do not mean end of war”, with Iran insisting it will only accept a permanent end to hostilities on the terms of its peace plan.

Iran also said it would guarantee passage for maritime traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, but with conditions.

It said that the pause would be used for talks with the United States on ending the war.

“For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on social media.

The Islamic republic’s Supreme National Security Council said in a separate statement the negotiations were set to last two weeks but could be “extended by mutual agreement of the parties.”

Despite the announcement, Israel’s military said Iran had fired missiles towards Israel moments after Trump declared the pause — with blasts heard in Jerusalem and Jericho in the occupied West Bank, according to Agence France-Presse correspondents on the ground.

Former US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro said Trump’s move was the “only plausible way to avoid an escalation that could have unleashed massive destruction of civilian infrastructure in Iran and in the Gulf states, and sent the global economic crisis into long-term overdrive”.

— With reporting by the Agence France-Presse and Reuters news agencies.

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