Trump announces two-week ceasefire on planned military action against Iran

President Donald Trump of the United States has announced a temporary suspension of planned military action against Iran, declaring a two-week ceasefire aimed at facilitating negotiations toward a long-term peace agreement in the Middle East.

Trump made the disclosure in a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, revealing that the decision followed high-level engagements with Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, and the country’s Chief of Army Staff, Asim Munir.

Trump had earlier issued a warning about Iran, declaring that an entire civilisation could be wiped out if the country failed to meet his demands.

In a post on Truth Social ahead of a military deadline, Trump wrote, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will”.

He further suggested that the potential destruction could coincide with sweeping political change in Iran, hinting at what he described as “complete and total regime change.”

Despite the severity of the warning, Trump struck a mixed tone, adding that such an outcome might open the door to a different future, stating that “maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen… we will find out tonight.”

However, according to him in a late post on Tuesday, the Pakistani leaders urged the United States to halt what he described as a “destructive force” that had been scheduled for deployment against Iran.

“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, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,” Trump stated.

He explained that the ceasefire arrangement is conditional on reciprocal actions by Iran, particularly the immediate reopening of a critical global shipping route.

“This will be a double-sided ceasefire, subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz,” he added.

Trump further claimed that the United States had already achieved its core military objectives, noting that both sides were close to reaching a comprehensive peace deal.

“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 long-term peace with Iran, and peace in the Middle East,” he said.

He also disclosed that Iran had submitted a 10-point proposal, which Washington considers a viable framework for ongoing negotiations.

“We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate. Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran,” Trump noted.

The president expressed optimism that the two-week window would allow both parties to finalise and formalise a lasting agreement.

The Strait of Hormuz, referenced in Trump’s statement, is one of the world’s most strategically important oil transit chokepoints, through which a significant percentage of global crude oil supply passes. Any disruption in the strait has far-reaching implications for international trade and energy markets.

Pakistan, which maintains diplomatic and strategic ties with both the United States and Iran, has occasionally played intermediary roles in regional conflicts. Analysts say the involvement of Islamabad in the latest development underscores growing international efforts to prevent escalation and stabilize the Middle East.