The ten-point Iranian plan presented to the United States to end the war in the Middle East requires Washington to accept the continuation of Tehran's uranium enrichment program and the lifting of all sanctions, according to Iranian media, writes AFP.
The plan, published by the Supreme National Security Council, includes “the principle of non-aggression, continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of enrichment, lifting of all primary sanctions, lifting of all secondary sanctions,” Iranian state television and the Mehr agency said.
Iran is also calling for the suspension of resolutions against the Islamic Republic passed by the UN Security Council and the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the payment of reparations to Iran, the withdrawal of US military forces from the region and an end to fighting on all fronts, including in southern Lebanon, where Tehran's ally Hezbollah is fighting Israel.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that the United States, Iran and their allies had accepted a ceasefire “everywhere”, including in Lebanon, following a Pakistani mediation aimed at ending more than five weeks of war.
Armistice between the US and Iran
The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week truce in exchange for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, about an hour before the expiration of Donald Trump's ultimatum threatening to destroy the Islamic Republic.
After more than five weeks of Israeli-American attacks on Iran, Tehran announced at dawn on Wednesday that talks with Washington would take place starting Friday. These talks will take place in Pakistan, a key mediator in the Middle East war.
“Following discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan, during which they asked me to suspend tonight's planned military intervention against Iran, and on the condition that the Islamic Republic of Iran accepts the FULL, IMMEDIATE and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend bombing and attacks against Iran for a period of two weeks,” the US president wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The last of a series of ultimatums launched by Donald Trump to Iran and repeatedly rejected gave Tehran until 20:00 in Washington, 3:00 Romania time, to reopen strategic maritime routes, through which 20% of the world's crude oil transited before the war.
“It's going to be a mutual Ceasefire!” added Mr Trump, who said the United States had “already met and exceeded all of our military objectives” since the launch of the US-Israeli strikes on 28 February.
He also mentioned “very advanced” talks toward a “long-term” peace deal with Iran.
Iran announcement
Iranian leaders have confirmed that they agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz “for a period of two weeks” “if the attacks against Iran cease”, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X.
“It was decided at the highest level that Iran will initiate, for a period of two weeks (…), negotiations with the American side in Islamabad,” the Supreme National Security Council added in a statement.
“It is stated that this does not mean the end of the war and that Iran will accept the cessation of hostilities only when” the negotiations are crowned with success, he added, stressing that these two weeks could be extended “by mutual agreement of the two sides”.
Iran's supreme leader ordered all military units to cease fire, according to a statement read on IRIB state television about two hours after President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire agreement, according to CNN, as carried by Iran International.
“This is not the end of the war, but all branches of the military must obey the order of the Supreme Leader and cease fire,” the statement said.
The price of oil fell rapidly
The announcement of a deal between Washington and Tehran was extremely well-received in the markets, with oil prices quickly falling more than 15 percent, back below $100 a barrel, and the Tokyo and Seoul stock markets rose 4 percent and 6 percent respectively at the open.
If Iran, which has almost completely paralyzed the strait since the start of the war, does not unblock it, “an entire civilization will die tonight,” Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday. “I don't want this to happen, but it probably will,” the White House leader added on the morning of the 48-hour ultimatum.
Donald Trump is “the only one” who knows “what he's going to do” in Iran, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said, as political opponents of the US president interpreted his contradictory statements as evidence that he was showing signs of dementia.
