The US and Iran pulled back from the brink Tuesday, agreeing to a two-week ceasefire just hours before Donald Trump's deadline to launch devastating attacks on Iranian targets was set to expire.
Trump announced he was suspending plans to escalate military operations after receiving what he described as a "workable basis on which to negotiate" from Tehran. The Iranian proposal consists of 10 points, though the White House has not yet detailed the full contents.
As part of the deal, Iran agreed to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping chokepoint that had been a flashpoint in recent tensions. Israel also signed onto the ceasefire arrangement, according to White House officials.
The sudden diplomatic breakthrough followed conversations between Trump and Pakistani leadership, with China believed to be leveraging its influence with Tehran to push the Iranians toward de-escalation. The compressed timeline, with negotiations racing against Trump's announced deadline, created pressure on all sides to reach agreement.
The two-week window gives negotiators space to explore whether Iran's proposal can form the foundation for a broader settlement. Trump's characterization of the plan as workable suggests initial receptivity, though senior US officials have not publicly detailed which specific Iranian demands might be acceptable or where talks could falter.
The ceasefire represents a significant reversal from Trump's earlier ultimatum. The agreement's durability will depend largely on whether both sides view the interim period as a genuine negotiating phase or merely a tactical pause.
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