On Wednesday, April 8, U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to suspend the planned bombing of Iran for two weeks, after threatening that “an entire civilization will die tonight” if Tehran did not comply with his demands.
On Tuesday night, just hours before the planned attack, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to announce that he had backed down from the decision.
The leader credited Pakistan with mediating the agreement, but warned that it came with conditions—namely, Iran’s reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
“Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan, and given that they requested that I suspend the destructive force that was to be sent against Iran tonight, and provided that the Islamic Republic of Iran agrees to the complete, immediate, and secure opening of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack on Iran for a period of two weeks,” Trump wrote.
The message was posted online at 6:32 p.m. (U.S. Eastern Time), just under an hour and a half before the 8:00 p.m. deadline for the attack.
Shortly thereafter, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that a preliminary agreement had been reached.
“If the attacks against Iran are halted, our powerful armed forces will cease their defensive operations,” Araghchi wrote, adding that “for a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible, subject to coordination with the Iranian Armed Forces and taking into account technical limitations.”
Araghchi also thanked Pakistan for its last-minute intervention to suspend the U.S. bombing campaign. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council indicated in a separate statement that the ceasefire could be extended beyond the initial two weeks if negotiations proceed favorably.
Further talks are expected to take place in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, in the coming weeks.
Source: Al Jazeera
