US, Israel and Iran has accepted a two-week ceasefire as the conflict enters sixth week, but conflicting versions from all sides raise doubts
Iran has claimed victory and says upcoming talks in Pakistan on Friday do not mean that the end of the war is guaranteed.
Iran says it has accepted a two-week ceasefire, with talks set to begin on Friday in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, after Trump agreed to suspend attacks on the condition that Tehran fully reopens the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said safe passage through the strategic waterway will be ensured for two weeks through coordination with the country’s armed forces.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has asserted that Tehran has already secured a “historic” victory in the ongoing conflict.
Describing the outcome of the conflict, the statement said, “The enemy has suffered an undeniable, historic and crushing defeat in its cowardly, illegal and criminal war against the Iranian nation.” It further added that Iran had compelled “the criminal America to accept its 10-point plan,” signalling what it termed a decisive shift in regional power dynamics.
The office said Israel backed the US move provided Tehran immediately opens the straits and stops attacks against the United States, Israel and countries in the region.
Israel also said it supports US efforts to ensure Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile or “terror” threat to US, Israel and Iran’s Arab neighbours, adding that Washington had told Israel it was committed to achieving their shared goals in upcoming negotiations.
However, ceasefire deal “does not include Lebanon,” it mentioned.
Trump’s move followed a request from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who urged the US to extend its deadline for a deal and called on Iran to reopen the strait.
