While Trump publicly threatened Tehran with complete destruction, intense work was going on behind the scenes, although even in the president’s inner circle they did not know until the last moment whether he would choose a massive bombing or a ceasefire, the publication writes.
The decisive day came on Monday, when American negotiators called Iran's initial counteroffers disastrous. This set off a chain of chaotic edits exchanged between intermediaries from Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey.
A special role was played by Khamenei, who, due to the threat of assassination, communicated with his subordinates exclusively through couriers with notes. Sources called his agreement to the deal a real breakthrough, which Tehran also pushed China towards. Ultimately, all important decisions passed through Khamenei, and without his approval the deal would not have taken place, a source in the region told the publication
Ultimately, the parties agreed on the terms of a two-week truce. After Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif released the terms of the deal, Trump came under pressure from radical allies to reject the proposal. However, after calls to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir, the US President accepted the terms of the truce, Axios writes. The order to cancel the strikes came to American troops just 15 minutes after the deal was officially confirmed on Trump’s social media.
As part of the agreement, Iran pledged to open the Strait of Hormuz to ships operating in coordination with its armed forces. Large-scale peace talks are set to begin in Pakistan on Friday, with the US delegation likely to be led by Vice President J.D. Vance. Despite the lull, deep differences remain between the United States and Iran, and Israel insists on the complete elimination of Tehran's nuclear and missile programs, leaving the risk of renewed war extremely high. The White House plans to say that it was the threat of total destruction that made this diplomatic success possible.
Context
US President Donald Trump agreed to suspend strikes on Iran for two weeks in exchange for the full opening of the Strait of Hormuz. He wrote about this in Truth Social an hour and a half before the ultimatum expired.
The head of the White House said that he considers Iran's 10-point proposal to be a “working basis for negotiations.” Trump claims that “almost all the controversial issues” between the two countries have already been agreed upon, but a two-week truce will allow the agreement to be completed.
Iran also agreed to a truce and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, this confirmed Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. Iranian National Security Council stated that Tehran achieved all military goals, “won a great victory and forced criminal America to accept its 10-point plan.”
Israel joined a two-week cessation of strikes on Iran, reported CNN citing a senior White House official.
