On Wednesday, President Trump voiced his optimism that the newly brokered cease-fire with Iran could herald a “Golden Age” for the Middle East.
“A monumental day for World Peace!” Trump shared on Truth Social following the announcement of the two-week truce. “Iran is eager for this, they’ve reached their limit! And truly, so has everyone else!”
The president mentioned that the United States would assist with easing traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring a steady flow of supplies, and maintaining a presence to guarantee smooth operations.
Trump expressed his “confidence” that reopening this crucial maritime passage, which sees 20% of the world’s oil transit daily, would proceed without a hitch.
“There will be a surge of positive developments! Significant economic opportunities arise. Iran can begin rebuilding,” he remarked. “Similar to the progress we’re witnessing in the US, this might be the Middle East’s Golden Age!”
Trump hailed Operation Epic Fury as a “total and complete victory,” over a month after initial US military actions in collaboration with Israeli forces commenced on February 28.
â100 percent,â he told Agence France Presse. âNo question about it.â
Trump didn’t rule out strikes on power plants if the ceasefire collapsed.
“You’re going to have to see,” he said when probed.
The exact terms of the cease-fire framework have not been released, but Trump described the proposal as âworkableâ and the temporary pause has been welcomed by Washingtonâs allies.
Iranâs embassy in India has since claimed the US is âfundamentally committedâ to lifting all sanctions against the Islamic Republic, accepting enrichment and agreeing to Tehranâs control over the Strait of Hormuz.
âYou started the war, but Iran will set the conditions for its end,â the embassy warned.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who is traveling to the Gulf on Wednesday, said the deal would âbring a moment of relief to the region and the world.â
âTogether with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz,â he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron also welcomed the deal, as did German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
âThe aim now is to negotiate a lasting end to the war. We are in close coordination with our partners on this matter,â Merz said.
But, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the two-week pause âdoes not include Lebanonâ as the Jewish state continues to target Hezbollah strongholds.
This came after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif claimed the US, Iran and their allies agreed to a cease-fire everywhere, including Lebanon.
“In accordance with directives from the political echelon, the IDF has ceased fire in the operation against Iran, and is highly prepared to respond defensively against any violation,” IDF officials said Wednesday. “Overnight, the IDF conducted a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting missile launch sites and launchers across Iran, in order to significantly degrade its launching capabilities.
“Simultaneously, in Lebanon, the IDF is continuing to conduct targeted ground operations against Hezbollah.”
Israeli defense forces have called on residents in Tyre, southern Lebanon, to evacuate their homes immediately.
Four people were killed in Tyre after a building was hit.
Strikes were also reported in Saida â located around 28 miles from Beirut, the Jerusalem Post reported.
While Israel continues to blitz southern Lebanon, Iranian-backed Hezbollah militias have paused strikes on northern Israel, three Lebanese sources told Reuters.
Hezbollah chiefs are set to release a statement outlining their position on the ceasefire.
With Post wires
