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| ▲ This photo, released by AFP, shows U.S. President Donald Trump speaking during a press conference at the White House in Washington on April 6, 2026. (Yonhap) |
(3rd LD) Trump-Iran deadline
(3rd LD) Trump agrees to 2-week ceasefire with Iran, 'subject to' Hormuz Strait reopening
(ATTN: ADDS more info, details in paras 14-16, 18)
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, April 7 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he agreed to suspend strikes on Iran for two weeks, "subject to" the Islamic Republic agreeing to the "complete" and "immediate" reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route.
Trump made the announcement on social media about 90 minutes before his deadline for reopening the strait was set to expire at 8 p.m. Tuesday. It followed frantic mediation efforts by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir to allow for diplomacy to continue to end the conflict.
In the run-up to the announcement, tensions spiked as Trump threatened to destroy all Iranian power plants and bridges and bring the country "back to the Stone Ages" should Tehran fail to meet the deadline. He also warned Tuesday that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again."
"Based on conversations (with the Pakistani officials), and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks," he wrote on Truth Social.
"This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! 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," he added.
Trump said that his administration received a 10-point proposal from Iran, which he believes 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, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated," he said.
"On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this Longterm problem close to resolution."
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi released a statement on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
"If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations," he said in the statement posted on X.
"For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations."
In the midst of the war, Iran imposed a de facto blockade of the strait with its drone and missile attacks, pushing up oil prices and fanning fears of inflation. The waterway is responsible for about a fifth of the world's oil supply.
Following Trump's announcement on the ceasefire, the U.S. halted all offensive operations in Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a senior U.S. official.
In a social media post, the Pakistani prime minister said that the U.S. and Iran, "along with their allies," agreed to an "immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY," while inviting the two countries' delegations to come to Islamabad on Friday for negotiations to settle their disputes.
"Both parties have displayed remarkable wisdom and understanding and have remained constructively engaged in furthering the cause of peace and stability," he wrote on X.
"We earnestly hope, that the 'Islamabad Talks' succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in coming days!"
Mediators from Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey have been at the vanguard of efforts to broker a deal between the U.S. and Iran to end the war.
Uncertainty still remains over whether Washington and Tehran can achieve a breakthrough in their negotiations to end fighting as the U.S. has presented tough demands on Iran's nuclear and missile programs, and other key issues, which Iran has balked at.
On Tuesday morning, Trump's threat to destroy a "whole civilization tonight" raised questions over whether diplomacy can work to end the war. His repeated threat to destroy civilian infrastructure in Iran also sparked a debate over whether it would constitute a breach of international law.
The temporary ceasefire deal came as Trump has sought an exit from the war amid growing fears of a prolonged war with Iran and its impact on oil prices and the overall economy ahead of the U.S. midterm elections, slated for November.
In coordination with Israel, the U.S. kicked off its military campaign, codenamed "Operation Epic Fury," on Feb. 28, aiming to destroy Iran's missile capabilities, defense industrial base, navy and air forces, and deny the regime any pathway to develop nuclear weapons.
On the opening day of the operation, Iran's then Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, leading his son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, to succeed him. Trump has said the new leader is "either dead or in very bad shape."
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