President Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, contingent on Iran’s “COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING” of the Strait of Hormuz, with negotiations to continue under Pakistani mediation. The pause, described by U.S. officials as contingent on the strait reopening and Iran halting attacks on the U.S., Israel and regional partners, came after intense days of strikes and threats.
Ceasefire and diplomacy
– The ceasefire was brokered with Pakistan serving as intermediary; Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the truce would also cover fighting in Lebanon and asked Trump to extend his deadline by two weeks to allow diplomacy to proceed. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said peace talks would begin Friday in Islamabad and allocated two weeks for talks, extendable by mutual agreement.
– Iran released a statement saying its 10-point proposal was accepted in principle and claimed the deal allows it to maintain coordination over the Strait of Hormuz, with “safe passage” to be coordinated with Iran’s armed forces. The U.S. has only confirmed the two-week ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as conditions.
– White House officials said Israel agreed to the contours of the ceasefire. Vice President JD Vance and other U.S. envoys, and Pakistani and Israeli leaders, were reported to have been involved in closing the deal.
Military and security developments
– Despite the ceasefire, Israel continued strikes in southern Lebanon targeting areas near Tyre; Lebanon’s army warned displaced people not to return south. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Lebanon was not part of the two-week ceasefire agreed by Washington and Tehran, a statement that appeared to contradict Pakistan’s account.
– Pro-Iran armed factions in Iraq announced a two-week halt to attacks on “enemy bases” following the ceasefire.
– U.S. and Israeli strikes in recent days have targeted Iranian infrastructure, including railways, bridges and military sites on Kharg Island and elsewhere. Israel said it damaged maritime detection systems and facilities tied to sea-skimming cruise missiles and air defenses. The IDF acknowledged strikes on railway lines and bridges used by the IRGC.
– Iran reported civilian casualties from strikes, including at least 18 killed in Alborz Province, and state media said a synagogue in Tehran was “completely destroyed” in one attack; Israeli military said it regretted collateral damage to the Tehran synagogue after targeting a senior commander’s facility.
– Iran urged youths to form human chains around power plants and mobilized public calls to defend infrastructure; Iran’s IRGC cyber unit warned it would end “self-restraint” in cyber operations and threatened long-term disruptions to Gulf oil flow.
– The Israel Defense Forces warned Iranians to avoid trains amid warnings of possible strikes on rail infrastructure. A container ship was reported struck near Kish Island, and explosions were reported near Kharg Island after U.S.-Israeli strikes.
Regional incidents and reactions
– Explosions were reported in Bahrain after the ceasefire announcement; the interior ministry reported minor injuries and damage from intercepted Iranian drones. Saudi Arabia’s Jubail industrial area and a Thuraya satellite firm in the UAE were reported hit in attacks attributed to Iran, with some civilian injuries.
– Iraq reopened its airspace after having closed it earlier because of the war.
– Kuwait imposed an overnight curfew as a precaution. The U.S. State Department advised Americans to reconsider participation in this year’s Hajj due to regional risks.
Humanitarian and hostage developments
– American journalist Shelly Kittleson, kidnapped in Iraq last week, was reported released; Iranian-backed militia in Iraq announced her release on condition she leave the country, and U.S. and Iraqi sources confirmed her freedom.
– Lebanon has seen heavy displacement and civilian casualties from the conflict with Hezbollah and Israeli strikes; Lebanon’s health ministry reported over 1,500 killed in Israeli strikes.
Economic and market impact
– Financial markets reacted strongly to the ceasefire news: oil prices plunged (WTI down more than 14% and Brent down over 13% at one point) and U.S. stock futures rose. Prices, however, remained above prewar levels. The International Air Transport Association said jet fuel supplies and prices could take months to normalize even if the Strait of Hormuz remains open.
International diplomacy and U.N.
– Russia and China vetoed a watered-down U.N. Security Council resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, blocking a measure that had been repeatedly weakened to try to gain their support.
– Pakistani officials were credited with mediation; Iran said talks would be in Islamabad. The White House said discussions about in-person talks were ongoing but not finalized.
U.S. political and public reactions
– President Trump posted praise for the deal on Truth Social, calling it “a big day for World Peace!” and detailed hopes for reconstruction and commerce.
– Trump had earlier set an 8 p.m. ET deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on power plants and bridges, and in prior posts warned a “whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran did not comply — comments that drew widespread condemnation.
– Senate and House Democrats condemned Trump’s threats and rhetoric; some called for congressional action, with leaders and members urging restraint and diplomacy. Senate Republicans were divided; Sen. Lindsey Graham called for a congressional review and said he was “extremely cautious” about the ceasefire details.
– Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged action to end the war; other lawmakers urged Congress to reconvene. Pope Leo XIV called Trump’s threats “truly unacceptable” and urged rejection of attacks on civilian infrastructure.
– White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the ceasefire as a U.S. victory, saying the military campaign created leverage for diplomacy and credited Trump with getting the strait reopened.
Other notable items
– Iran’s Supreme National Security Council presented a 10-point plan reportedly including withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region and lifting primary and secondary sanctions, items the U.S. has not confirmed.
– U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces launched one-way attack drones into Iran; CENTCOM emphasized drones are integrated into offensive and defensive operations.
– Civilian infrastructure damage reported across Iran includes power transmission and substation outages, and strikes on bridges and rail lines. Iran warned that further escalation could target other key shipping lanes like the Bab el-Mandeb via allies if the situation worsened.
Outlook
– The two-week ceasefire creates a window for talks, with Pakistan named as host and mediator; whether the truce holds depends on Iran’s coordination on the Strait of Hormuz and cessation of attacks, plus the responses of regional actors. Contradictions remain—Israel’s statement excluding Lebanon from the truce versus Pakistan’s claim that Lebanon is included—and the deal’s details beyond the evacuation of the strait and temporary halt remain unclear. Markets and regional security dynamics will be closely tied to progress in Islamabad and compliance on the strait reopening.