United States President Donald Trump has agreed to pause his planned attack on Iran for two weeks, after he had warned that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran did not follow his demands.
On Tuesday evening, just hours before the planned strike, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social that he had changed his mind. He said Pakistan helped to mediate the deal, but warned there were conditions mainly that Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“After talking with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, and at their request to delay the attack on Iran, I will pause the bombing for two weeks, as long as Iran immediately and safely reopens the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote.
Shortly after, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed a temporary agreement.
“If attacks on Iran stop, our Armed Forces will also stop their defensive actions,” Araghchi said.
He added that for the next two weeks, ships could safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz with Iran’s Armed Forces coordinating and considering technical limits.
Araghchi also thanked Pakistan for helping to delay the US attack. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said the ceasefire could be extended beyond two weeks if negotiations go well. More talks are planned in Islamabad in the coming wee
Tensions grew on Tuesday as the deadline got closer, especially after Trump posted a dramatic message on social media that morning.
He wrote, “A whole civilization could end tonight, never to return. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”
Trump said the evening would be “one of the most important moments in the long history of the world.”
Earlier, he had threatened to destroy power plants, bridges, and other civilian targets a move that experts warned could be considered a war crime.
In his message on Tuesday evening, Trump claimed the U.S. had won over Iran and said that Iran had sent a reasonable proposal for a ceasefire.
He wrote, “This will be a mutual ceasefire. We have already achieved all our military goals and are close to a final peace agreement with Iran and the Middle East. Iran sent us a 10-point plan, which we think could work as a basis for negotiation.”
Trump said the next two weeks would focus on finalizing the agreement. He expressed hope that past disagreements had been resolved.
“Most of the previous disagreements between the U.S. and Iran have now been settled,” he said.
He added, “It’s an honor to be close to solving this long-standing problem.”
