By Ghazali Ibrahim
United States President Donald Trump has agreed to a temporary ceasefire with Iran, pausing planned military strikes and opening the door for renewed diplomatic negotiations.
The ceasefire, announced late Tuesday, will last for two weeks and is tied to conditions including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route.
The development comes just hours before a deadline set by Trump for Iran to comply with U.S. demands or face large-scale attacks targeting key infrastructure such as power plants and bridges.
Under the agreement, both sides are expected to halt hostilities, with Iran indicating readiness to allow safe passage through the strategic waterway while negotiations continue toward a broader peace deal.
The truce was reportedly facilitated by diplomatic efforts led by Pakistan, which urged both sides to step back from further escalation and pursue dialogue.
Trump described the agreement as a major breakthrough, portraying it as a significant step toward ending weeks of conflict and stabilising the region.
However, analysts and political leaders have cautioned that the ceasefire remains fragile, with concerns that the pause in fighting may only be temporary as negotiations are yet to produce a long-term resolution.
The conflict, which has disrupted global oil supplies and heightened tensions across the Middle East, continues to evolve, with further talks expected in the coming days.
