Trump agrees to 2-week ceasefire, backs down from threats to destroy Iran’s infrastructure
By Iftikhar Ali
WASHINGTON, Apr 08 (APP):The United States and Iran Tuesday agreed to a Pakistan-proposed ceasefire, less than two hours before a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened or “a whole civilization will die.”
In a dramatic announcement, Trump said the halt in attacks would amount to a “double sided ceasefire”, and claimed that U.S. forces had already “met and exceeded all Military objectives.”
Pakistan, acting as an intermediary, proposed that Trump should agree to a two-week extension to the deadline, while Iran should allow marine traffic through the strait for that period. Iran agreed, saying its armed forces would co-ordinate safe passage through the critical pathway for oil and gas.
“Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz,” the US President said in his social media post.
“I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,” Trump said, adding that this will be a double-sided ceasefire.
He said the US has received a 10-point proposal from Iran which he believed was a “workable basis on which to negotiate”.
That two-week period would be used to negotiate a larger agreement to potentially end the war.
“The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East,” Trump said.
“We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate,” he said.
Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the US and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the agreement to be finalized and consummated, the president said.
“On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honour to have this Longterm problem close to resolution,” Trump said.
Meanwhile, markets hailed the ceasefire news, with the international oil price benchmark falling 13% as of Tuesday night, and S&P 500 futures indicating that the stock index could open up more than 2% on Wednesday.
