Iran immersed in celebration, Israel and US in mourning, Iran emerges as a superpower globally

Tehran, 08 April (UNI) Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said his country has agreed to a two-week ceasefire with the US and will allow safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz during this period.

Araghchi thanked Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and military chief Asim Munir for brokering the ceasefire agreement. In a statement issued by Iran's Security Council on Wednesday morning, he said, "On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I thank my brother, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Munir, for their tireless efforts to end the war in the region."

He said that following Prime Minister Sharif's "brotherly appeal", the US's 15-point proposal for negotiations, and the US President's announcement to accept Iran's 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations, Iran's Security Council has made two decisions:

* If the attacks on Iran stop, Iran's armed forces will also stop their defensive operations.
* For two weeks, safe passage will be allowed through the Strait of Hormuz, which will be ensured in coordination with Iran's armed forces and within technical limits.

It is worth noting that the US and Israel launched attacks on several cities in Iran, including the capital Tehran, on February 28, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people, including Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated by attacking US military bases in Israel and Western Asia. Pakistan initiated peace talks in Islamabad. Initially, Iran refused to participate in the talks; however, on Wednesday morning, an agreement was reached between the two countries for a two-week ceasefire.

The dramatic turn in the US-Iran war scenario came hours before the deadline set by US President Donald Trump, when Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei hinted at a deal with the US for the first time.

According to reports, he instructed Iranian negotiators to engage in more serious talks with the US, which regional authorities termed a "major shift". This development came as Trump warned that if Iran did not comply with US demands, "the entire civilization could be destroyed", including keeping the Strait of Hormuz open.

As the US and Iran engaged in negotiations, the Pentagon was simultaneously preparing for large-scale attacks. It was unclear whether the situation would lead to diplomacy or direct confrontation. A defense official quoted by 'Axios' said, "We had no idea what was going to happen next; it was all very strange."

Diplomatic efforts progressed through several secret negotiations. Sources said US envoy Steve Witkoff was "enraged" and had rejected Iran's initial 10-point counter-proposal, calling it "a disaster and a catastrophe". As a result, several changes were made to the proposal.

The announcement came in a dramatic development late on Tuesday night, pulling both countries back from the brink of a potential major military confrontation. At 6:32 pm Washington time (4:02 am Indian time on Wednesday), Trump announced on his social media platform that, considering the ongoing diplomatic progress, he was suspending planned military actions against Iran for two weeks.

This move came just hours before the deadline he had set, which was 8 pm (5:30 am Indian time). Earlier, Washington had warned that it could launch large-scale attacks targeting Iran's energy and transportation infrastructure. In an official statement, Trump said the decision was made after talking to Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir, who had stressed the need to reduce tensions. He added that the ceasefire was contingent upon Iran allowing the "complete, immediate, and safe" opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump stated that this would be a two-way ceasefire, and claimed that the US had achieved all its military objectives and was close to securing a long-term peace agreement with Iran. He also revealed that Washington had received a 10-point proposal from Tehran, which he termed a "workable basis for negotiations", and said that most of the previous points of contention had been resolved.

The announcement marked a significant shift from the tough stance adopted earlier in the week. By Tuesday morning, Trump had warned that if Iran did not comply with US demands, it could lead to the "total destruction of civilization", highlighting the uncertainty of the situation.

According to authorities, the ceasefire is conditional on Iran also reducing tensions and ensuring the safe passage of commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, to which Tehran has expressed willingness. The rapid shift from tensions to negotiations underscores the delicate nature of the situation and the importance of stability in the Gulf region, which is crucial for global energy supply.

Backchannel diplomatic efforts involved US envoy Steve Witkoff, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey. As the day progressed, the mediators secured US approval for a revised outline by Monday night. The US agreed to a short-term ceasefire, leaving the final decision entirely in the hands of Supreme Leader Khamenei.

It is said that the final decision depended on Khamenei's approval, without which no agreement was possible. Meanwhile, fears of potential attacks in Iran led some people to leave their homes, while regional countries were also preparing for any response. US Vice President JD Vance was also involved in the negotiations, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in constant contact with the US. There was anxiety in Israeli circles as the situation was slipping out of their hands.

By Tuesday afternoon, a possible agreement on a short-term ceasefire seemed to be emerging between the two sides. Within hours, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly outlined the proposal and appealed to both parties to accept it. The uncertain situation persisted, as several sources indicated that those who had spoken to Trump just hours earlier still believed he could reject the proposal outright.

After talking to Pakistani leadership and Mr. Netanyahu, Trump accepted the proposal. Immediately thereafter, US forces deployed in the region were ordered to halt attack preparations. Iran has also announced that it will abide by the ceasefire. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that ship movements through the Strait of Hormuz will continue with the cooperation of Iranian armed forces, although the duration and terms are not yet fully clear.

After nearly 39 days of war, Donald Trump approved a two-week ceasefire with Iran, conditional on the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement came as the deadline for Iran to open the Hormuz passage was about to expire. Trump's stance differed from his earlier tough statement, in which he had issued a severe warning.

Shehbaz Sharif, who played a key role in mediating the talks, told "X" that Iranian and US delegations have been invited to Islamabad for negotiations. According to Trump, the agreement was finalized in the last moments, with the basic condition being that Iran must stop obstructing oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly a fifth of the world's supply passes.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran will stop retaliatory attacks and ensure the safe passage of ships. Trump wrote on "Truth Social" that "this will be a two-way ceasefire" and claimed that the US has achieved its military objectives and is now moving towards long-term peace. He also said the US will help resolve transportation issues in the Hormuz and that Iran will have the opportunity to rebuild and gain "huge financial benefits".

Iran's Supreme National Security Council termed the agreement a victory, stating that the US has accepted Iran's terms. On the other hand, an Israeli official said that Israel had been in full coordination with the US before the ceasefire and that the US will stand firm on its demands, including the cessation of uranium enrichment and the addressing of ballistic missile threats.

It is worth noting that the war, which began on February 28, has affected over a dozen countries, resulting in more than 5,000 deaths, and has had severe impacts on global energy and financial markets.