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US President Donald Trump announced a two-week mutual ceasefire with Iran on April 7, saying the two sides had resolved almost all contentious issues and that Washington views Tehran's 10-point proposals as a "workable basis on which to negotiate." The ceasefire was made on the condition that Iran was ready to open the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime corridor through which about a fifth of the world's oil supply passes.

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While the ceasefire was announced, analysts interviewed by The Independent said shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is unlikely to quickly return to previous levels, as the situation "remains extremely volatile." The declaration of a ceasefire has not led to a rapid restoration of shipping in the strait, according to the report.

Trump's announcement, posted at 6:32pm US Eastern time, came just under one and a half hours before his 8pm deadline for the attack. The US and Israel had launched a joint military offensive against Iran on February 28. On the opening day of the operation, Iran's then Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, and his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded him.

According to The Wall Street Journal, citing a senior US official, the US halted all offensive operations in Iran following Trump's announcement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed support for Washington's decision to suspend strikes on Iran for two weeks, subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks, but stressed that the ceasefire does not include Lebanon.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who served as mediator between the two sides, invited the parties to talks on April 10. According to Iranian state television, the talks are expected to be direct. Trump's ceasefire announcement was based on conversations with Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir. Sharif had appealed to Trump on Tuesday to extend the deadline for two weeks to allow diplomacy to run its course. Sharif said the US and Iran, along with their allies, agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon—a claim that contradicts Netanyahu's statement that the ceasefire does not include Lebanon.

It was reported that Iran launched missiles toward Israel early Wednesday morning, hours after Trump announced the ceasefire. The US military campaign against Iran was codenamed Operation Epic Fury.

Key Claims

  • Trump announced a two-week mutual ceasefire with Iran on April 7, stating the two sides had resolved almost all contentious issues.
  • The ceasefire was conditional on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Iran's 10-point proposal includes adherence to the non-aggression principle, Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz, uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, lifting of sanctions, compensation, and withdrawal of US forces from the region.
  • Tehran agreed to cease defensive attacks if Iran was not attacked.
  • Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed that if attacks against Iran are halted, Iran's armed forces will cease their defensive operations, and that for a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces.
  • Trump threatened that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Tehran did not comply with his demands.
  • The US and Israel launched a joint military offensive against Iran on February 28.
  • The US imposed new sanctions targeting 14 individuals and entities over alleged links to Iran's arms industry.
  • Iran's Supreme National Security Council declared victory and a historic and crushing defeat of the US and Israel.
  • Trump said the ceasefire could pave the way for the "Golden Age" in the Middle East.
  • Asian equities rose sharply after the ceasefire announcement, with Seoul and Tokyo soaring more than 5 percent, Taipei adding nearly 4 percent, and Sydney and Hong Kong more than 2 percent.
Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow had spoken from the very beginning about the need to shift the Middle East escalation to the diplomatic track as soon as possible. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Russia welcomes the agreement to end hostilities between the US and Iran. Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said the fact that Trump agreed to discuss Iran's 10-point plan marks the Iranians' success.

According to CNN's sources, US Vice President JD Vance, Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner may take part in the April 10 negotiations in Islamabad.