The truce announcement came an hour before the last in a series of ‘ultimatums’ sent by Trump to Iran expired
Os United States and Iran declared victory this Wednesday(8), after agree to a two-week ceasefire which should allow the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, but which, according to Israel, will not apply to Lebanon.
“A total and complete victory. 100%. Without a doubt,” US President Donald Trump told AFP by phone shortly after the announcement. He also stated that the issue of Iranian uranium, which Western countries claim can be used to make nuclear weapons, would be “perfectly resolved.”
“Iran has achieved a great victory,” declared the Iran’s Supreme National Security Councilstating that “the enemy suffered an undeniable, historic and crushing defeat”.
Iranian authorities announced talks with Washington representatives starting Friday in Pakistan, which has played a key role as mediator.
But in Tehran, Iranians have doubts about the future. “My closest friends and I are a little confused. What was all this for? They attacked nuclear and missile facilities to buy time, but in reality nothing changed for the people of Iran,” a 30-year-old stockbroker told AFP.
“The Islamic Republic now feels victorious, and I don’t think that will give the Americans many options in the negotiations,” he added.
Trump demands “total” opening of Ormuz
The conflict began on February 28 with the joint Israeli-American offensive against Iranwhich, on its first day, resulted in the assassination of supreme leader Ali Khamenei. On the same day, Trump called for the fall of the Islamic Republic, a position he later abandoned.
On March 2, the conflict spread to Lebanon, where the Israeli army is fighting the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement, supported by Tehran.
The American president demanded that the agreement guarantee the opening “total, immediate and secure” Strait of Hormuzvital to the global supply of hydrocarbons, and announced on Truth Social that negotiations are “very advanced” towards lasting peace.
Iran has proposed to Washington a ten-point plan to ensure peace, which includes Washington’s recognition of Iran’s uranium enrichment program, as well as the lifting of all sanctions that have crippled its economy for years.
The document, published by the Supreme National Security Council and reported by state media, includes “the principle of non-aggression, the maintenance of Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, the acceptance of uranium enrichment and the suspension of all primary and secondary sanctions.”
“Iran will hold negotiations with the United States in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, for a period of two weeks”, indicated the Council, specifying that “this does not mean the end of the war” and that this period could be extended “by mutual agreement between the parties”.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghchi, confirmed on the X network that the Iranian leaders agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz “for a period of two weeks” “if attacks against Iran cease.”
Drones in Bahrain
The ceasefire was announced an hour before the last in a series of ultimatums sent by Trump to Iran expire. This time, Trump threatened to eradicate “an entire civilization” if Tehran did not react by midnight GMT on Wednesday.
“I am pleased to announce… an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and others, WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT,” said Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country played a key role in the agreement.
Israel, however, shortly after denied that the ceasefire also applied to Lebanon and, in fact, issued an evacuation order for several neighborhoods in southern Beirut, a stronghold of the pro-Iran Hezbollah movement, with which it has been at war again since March 2. Since the start of the conflict, at least 1,500 people have died, according to a count by Lebanese authorities.
Despite all these announcements, a few hours later, two people were injured this Wednesday in Bahrain by an Iranian droneauthorities said.
O Israeli army reported that Iran launched three volleys of missiles towards its territory shortly after Trump’s announcement. Israel “remains on high alert, ready to respond to any violation” of the ceasefire, he said.
After the agreement, oil prices, both WTI and Brent, plummeted to less than US$100 (R$516), after reaching around US$120 (R$619) at the height of the crisis. In Asia, the Tokyo (+5.4%) and Seoul (+7%) stock exchanges closed with significant increases.
Despite market optimism, IATA warned that it will take “months” to normalize fuel supply and stated that an increase in air ticket prices is “inevitable”.
In Iraq, where pro-Iran groups have launched attacks against American interests in the country since the start of the waran alliance of factions announced on Telegram the “suspension of its operations” for two weeks.
*AFP
