Temporary halt in hostilities opens key global shipping route as U.S. officials warn readiness to resume combat if terms are violated.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump confirmed a two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran late Tuesday, pausing weeks of military conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while outlining U.S. plans to oversee maritime activity, pursue negotiations, and engage in post-conflict economic efforts.
The agreement was announced shortly before a U.S. deadline for Iran to reopen the strategic waterway or face expanded military action. The ceasefire follows discussions with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who urged a delay in further escalation to allow for diplomatic engagement.
In a statement posted to his Truth Social platform, Trump said both sides were prepared to step back from continued fighting. “A big day for World Peace! Iran wants it to happen, they’ve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else!” he wrote. “The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process.”
Trump added that U.S. forces would remain in the region to ensure stability, stating the United States would be “loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just ‘hangin’ around’ in order to make sure that everything goes well.” He further stated, “Just like we are experiencing in the U.S., this could be the Golden Age of the Middle East.”
The ceasefire is designed as a temporary pause lasting two weeks to allow negotiations to proceed. Reports indicate that Iran has presented a 10-point proposal, while the United States has developed a separate 15-point framework. The specific contents of both plans remain unclear, with multiple versions of Iran’s proposal circulating and uncertainty over what has been formally conveyed through diplomatic channels.
As part of the agreement, Iran committed to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates that is critical to global energy supply. Prior to the conflict, the strait carried approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day and about one-fifth of the world’s liquefied natural gas. Its closure during hostilities disrupted global markets and drove up energy prices.
Within hours of the ceasefire taking effect, shipping traffic resumed. The Liberia-flagged bulk carrier “Daytona Beach” transited the strait around 2 a.m. Eastern Time, followed by the Greek-owned vessel “NJ Earth” approximately 90 minutes later, marking the first commercial crossings since the disruption.
Trump indicated the United States will maintain an active role in managing the corridor. “The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz… and just ‘hangin’ around’ in order to make sure that everything goes well,” he stated.
At the Pentagon, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said U.S. forces remain prepared to resume operations if the ceasefire fails. “Over the course of 38 days of major combat operation, the Joint Force achieved the military objectives as defined by the president,” Caine said. “We welcome the ongoing ceasefire… but a ceasefire is a pause and the joint force remains ready if ordered or called upon to resume combat operations with the same speed and precision as we’ve demonstrated over the last 38 days. And we hope that that is not the case.”
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth described the outcome of recent military operations as decisive. “Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield. A capital V military victory. By any measure, Epic Fury decimated Iran’s military and rendered it combat ineffective for years to come,” he said. He added, “President Trump forged this moment. Iran begged for this ceasefire, and we all know it.”
Hegseth also referenced earlier operations, including strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities during Operation Midnight Hammer, which targeted sites such as Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Operation Epic Fury, launched Feb. 28 in coordination with Israel’s Operation Roaring Lion, focused on Iranian leadership, missile systems, and remaining nuclear-related infrastructure.
Trump also announced additional measures tied to negotiations in a separate Truth Social post, stating the United States would work with Iran to remove nuclear material and enforce a prohibition on uranium enrichment. “There will be no enrichment of Uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried Nuclear ‘Dust,’” he wrote, adding that the material is under “very exacting Satellite Surveillance (Space Force!).” He also said tariff and sanctions relief discussions are underway, noting that “many of the 15 points have already been agreed to.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the ceasefire as the result of sustained military pressure in a statement posted on X. In the statement, she wrote: “This is a victory for the United States that President Trump and our incredible military made happen. From the very beginning of Operation Epic Fury, President Trump estimated this would be a 4-6 week operation. Thanks to the unbelievable capabilities of our warriors, we have achieved and exceeded our core military objectives in 38 days.”
She added, “The success of our military created maximum leverage, allowing President Trump and the team to engage in tough negotiations that have now created an opening for a diplomatic solution and long-term peace. Additionally, President Trump got the Strait of Hormuz reopened.”
International leaders responded to the agreement with statements of support. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel backs the ceasefire, stating his country “supports the U.S. effort to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat to America, Israel, Iran’s Arab neighbors and the world.” He added that the agreement does not apply to Lebanon, where Israeli operations against Hezbollah may continue.
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer also welcomed the agreement, stating in a post on X that it would “bring a moment of relief to the region and the world,” and urging efforts to “support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz.”
Despite the ceasefire, hostilities continued in parts of the region. Kuwait reported intercepting 28 drones targeting oil facilities, power stations, and water desalination plants, causing material damage. The United Arab Emirates said its air defense systems engaged ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones launched from Iran, with explosions reported across multiple locations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Tehran would allow safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for the duration of the ceasefire. “If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations,” he said.
The ceasefire follows more than a month of sustained military exchanges between the United States, Israel, and Iran, including infrastructure strikes, missile attacks, and drone operations across the region. Israeli forces targeted railways and bridges allegedly used by Iranian forces, while Iran launched retaliatory strikes across Gulf states.
Reports indicate casualties and damage across multiple countries. In Qatar, missile debris injured four individuals, including a child. Explosions were also reported in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. In Baghdad, two civilians, including an eight-year-old child, were killed when a projectile struck a residence.
Economic markets reacted quickly to the ceasefire announcement. Oil prices dropped more than 17 percent, reversing sharp increases seen during the conflict, while stock markets rose in early trading.
Iran has also signaled willingness to negotiate, with officials indicating talks could begin within days in Pakistan. Vice President JD Vance is expected to participate in the discussions. Pakistani officials have indicated that in-person negotiations could last up to three weeks as part of a broader peace process.
Trump stated that the United States is “very far along” in reaching a longer-term agreement and described Iran’s proposals as “workable,” though publicly released Iranian positions have included demands such as lifting sanctions, asserting control over the Strait of Hormuz, and removing U.S. forces from the region.
Throughout the conflict, U.S. military operations focused on Iranian military targets while avoiding core economic infrastructure, including oil production systems. Officials indicated this approach was intended to preserve a pathway for economic recovery and potential reintegration into global markets.
Trump emphasized that the United States will maintain a continued presence in the region during the ceasefire and negotiation period, underscoring the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and stabilizing global energy flows while diplomatic efforts continue.
Original article
Comments