Iran has agreed to a two-week ceasefire, with negotiations scheduled to commence on Friday in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital. This development follows United States President Donald Trump’s agreement to halt attacks, provided Tehran fully reopens the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghchi, stated that safe passage through the strategic waterway would be guaranteed for two weeks, coordinated with the country’s armed forces. Trump’s decision came after a request from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who urged Washington to extend its deadline for a deal and called on Iran to reopen the strait.
Hours after the truce was announced, Israel conducted devastating bombing raids across Lebanon, including the capital Beirut, which authorities report have killed at least 254 people.
**In Iran:**
**US, Iran, Israel Agree to Last-Minute Ceasefire:** The US, Iran, and Israel reached a two-week truce on Tuesday, just an hour before Trump’s deadline for escalating the conflict expired. Tehran agreed to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while the White House confirmed Israel’s involvement. This breakthrough followed talks with Pakistan’s leadership, which had advocated for a ceasefire.
**Hormuz Terms Under Ceasefire:** Under the agreement, safe passage will be coordinated, with Iran and Oman permitted to charge transit fees on passing ships. Tehran intends to use this revenue for post-war reconstruction.
**Ten-Point Peace Plan:** Talks are scheduled to begin on Friday in Islamabad, mediated by Pakistan’s prime minister. Tehran’s proposed plan includes lifting sanctions, establishing a war-loss fund, a potential US troop withdrawal from the Gulf, and recognition of Iran’s right to enrich uranium in exchange for a pledge not to build nuclear weapons. It remains unclear whether the US has agreed to any of these proposals.
**Tehran Synagogue Struck:** The Israeli military acknowledged that an overnight strike, which it stated was targeting a senior Iranian commander, caused “collateral damage” to a synagogue in Tehran, expressing regret over the incident.
**Tehran Leaders Project Strength:** Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Vall reported from Tehran a “feeling of pride among the leaders,” who are conveying to the public that “this war is ending on Iran’s terms.”
**War Diplomacy:**
**Trump Says China Helped Bring Iran to Talks:** Donald Trump informed AFP that he believed China played a role in encouraging Iran to negotiate the two-week ceasefire. “I hear yes,” he responded when asked if Beijing was involved in bringing its ally Tehran to the negotiating table.
**NATO Chief to Meet Trump in Washington:** Mark Rutte is set to meet Trump on Wednesday, with discussions expected to concentrate on the Iran situation as well as Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, according to a NATO official.
**Regional Reactions:** The ceasefire has sparked street celebrations in Tehran and Baghdad, with Iranian leaders declaring the conflict is ending “on Iran’s terms.” However, some citizens remain skeptical, warning that the US and Israel might be using the pause to “buy time” and regroup.
**Israel Backs Truce with Limits:** The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed support for the US decision to suspend strikes on Iran but emphasized that the ceasefire does not extend to Lebanon.
**A Fragile Exit, and a Narrow Diplomatic Window:** Analyst Trita Parsi described the ceasefire as a strategic retreat by Trump, arguing the conflict had “become an absolute disaster” and compelled the White House to seek a way out. “Trump needed an exit, and he took it,” he stated, cautioning that the next two weeks will be decisive, either paving the way for genuine diplomacy or allowing tensions to reignite.
**In the Gulf:**
**Bahrain Says Fire Contained After Attack:** No injuries were reported at an unnamed facility following the incident, authorities said.
**Saudi Arabia Role Acknowledged:** The country was briefly mentioned and thanked by Australian leaders for its role as a mediator who helped facilitate the current ceasefire agreement.
**Qatar:** Before the ceasefire was reached, Qatar stated that the war was approaching a stage where it could no longer be contained. A Foreign Ministry spokesman urged urgent de-escalation, saying, “This is why we have been urging all parties to find a resolution… before it’s too late.”
**UAE:** The United Arab Emirates reported that 17 Iranian missiles and 35 drones had targeted its territory despite the ceasefire.
**Kuwait:** The country also reported that at least 28 Iranian drones had damaged power and desalination plants as well as oil facilities, hours after the Iran-US truce came into effect.
**In the US:**
**US Frames Ceasefire as Leverage for Diplomacy:** White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted that the military campaign was a success that achieved its goals, rejecting the notion of a retreat. She characterized the ceasefire as a calculated move, arguing it “created maximum leverage” for Trump to pursue tough negotiations, opening the door to a diplomatic solution and long-term peace.
**US ‘Remains Ready’:** The top US general stated Wednesday that the US military is prepared to resume attacks on Iran if ordered by Trump. “Let us be clear, a ceasefire is a pause, and the joint force remains ready, if ordered or called upon,” General Dan Caine told a press conference.
**US Journalist Released in Iraq:** Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who had been kidnapped in Iraq days earlier. Her freedom came after the armed group Kataib Hezbollah said it would release her on the condition she leave the country immediately.
**Scrutiny Over ‘Perfectly Timed’ Bets:** An online prediction platform, Polymarket, is facing questions over possible insider trading after an anonymous user reportedly made $400,000 by accurately betting on the start of US military action and the timing of the ceasefire — raising concerns about leaks tied to geopolitical decisions.
**In Israel:**
**Israel Backs Ceasefire, But Not in Lebanon:** Israel stated on Wednesday that it supported the two-week ceasefire with Iran but maintained the deal “does not include Lebanon,” where it has been fighting the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.
**Reluctance Over Ceasefire:** Al Jazeera’s Rob McBride reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu is “widely suspected of having derailed the last round of talks” brokered by Oman and remains “very wary of the word ‘ceasefire.’”
**’Political Disaster’:** Israel’s opposition leaders criticized the ceasefire, accusing Netanyahu of failing to achieve the war’s objectives.
**Israel Warns Lebanon Ships:** The Israeli military urged all vessels in the maritime zone off the coast of southern Lebanon to immediately head north of the city of Tyre, warning that it would operate in the area.
**In Iraq and Lebanon:**
**Massive Casualties in Lebanon:** Israel carried out 100 strikes across Lebanon, including the capital Beirut, in just 10 minutes. These devastating attacks have left at least 254 people dead and more than 1,165 wounded, completely overwhelming local hospitals.
**Beirut:** Witnesses described the aftermath of the strikes as “apocalyptic.” Emergency responders and excavators are digging through the rubble of dozens of destroyed homes in neighborhoods such as Salim Salam and al-Mazraa, searching for survivors and recovering bodies.
**Hezbollah Signals Defiance:** The Lebanese group Hezbollah has not directly commented on the ceasefire but shared a past statement by the late Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alongside imagery of torn US and Israeli flags, warning: “We will make the enemy kneel.”
**Iran-Aligned Groups Pause Operations in Iraq:** The Islamic Resistance in Iraq said it will observe the truce, suspending military operations in Iraq and across the region for two weeks.
**Global Economy:**
**Oil Drops Below $100:** Crude prices fell on Wednesday after Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, easing fears of supply disruptions.
**Caution Despite Ceasefire Relief:** Alex Holmes of the Economist Intelligence Unit said the ceasefire remains uncertain, with markets in “wait-and-see mode” as a “big gap” remains in negotiations. While oil prices fell after the announcement, he noted they are still significantly higher than in late February.
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