WASHINGTON, United States — The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week conditional ceasefire, temporarily reopening the Strait of Hormuz and averting threatened U.S. strikes after last-minute diplomatic intervention by Pakistan.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the agreement less than two hours before a self-imposed deadline to launch attacks on Iranian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges.
The strikes had raised concerns among legal scholars and international leaders who warned they could amount to violations of international law.
Earlier, Trump had warned that “a whole civilization will die tonight,” as reports indicated U.S. B-52 bombers were already en route.
By Tuesday evening, however, he confirmed that Islamabad had mediated a temporary pause to allow diplomacy.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif requested the two-week ceasefire to “allow diplomacy to run its course,” according to statements released after the agreement.
Trump said the pause was conditional on Iran ensuring the “complete, immediate, and safe opening” of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor.
He later described the development as “a big day for world peace,” adding that the United States would help ease shipping congestion as traffic resumes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said Israel supports the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, but clarified that the arrangement does not extend to operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
His office also reiterated support for efforts to ensure Iran no longer poses nuclear or missile threats.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed Tehran had agreed to the pause, saying safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be coordinated with Iranian armed forces during the two-week period.
The ceasefire is expected to pave the way for negotiations based on a proposed 10-point framework. Pakistan has invited U.S. and Iranian delegations to talks in Islamabad on Friday.
Tehran confirmed attendance, while Washington had not publicly accepted the invitation at the time of the announcement.
Markets reacted quickly to the news, with oil prices falling and global stocks rising on expectations that energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz — which carries roughly a fifth of global oil supply — could resume.
The conflict had disrupted shipping for weeks, tightening supply and raising fears of a prolonged fuel shock.
Despite the announcement, reports indicated that strikes and clashes continued in parts of the region in the hours surrounding the deadline, underscoring the fragility of the truce.
International reaction was cautious but broadly supportive. Governments in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East welcomed the pause while urging sustained dialogue. Officials warned that a temporary ceasefire would need to translate into a longer-term agreement to prevent renewed escalation.
