Tehran, April 8 (UNI) US President Donald Trump termed it a “big day for world peace” after announcing a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, just an hour before his escalation deadline expired.
This comes after 39 days of war when the US and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran, and hours after Trump threatened "a whole civilisation will die tonight" if Iran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has been mediating negotiations, said early on Wednesday that the ceasefire was effective immediately.
The temporary truce hinges on Iran reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, paving the way for negotiations based on a broader peace framework proposed by Tehran.
Iranian state media has outlined a 10-point proposal that forms the basis for ongoing negotiations:
No further military aggression against Iran;
Continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz;
Acceptance of Iran’s right to uranium enrichment;
Removal of all primary US sanctions;
Lifting of secondary sanctions;
Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions against Iran;
Revocation of IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Board of Governors resolutions;
Payment of compensation for war damages;
Withdrawal of US combat forces from the region;
End to attacks on Iran-aligned groups across the region.
The proposal also reportedly includes provisions for financial compensation mechanisms and a commitment by Iran not to develop nuclear weapons, in exchange for recognition of its civilian nuclear programme.
While Washington has described the plan as a “workable basis” for negotiations, several of its demands, particularly on sanctions relief, military withdrawal and nuclear enrichment, are expected to be major sticking points in talks.
The ceasefire though appears to be fragile, it is a significant opening for diplomacy.
Pakistan, which has been facilitating the talks, has invited the delegations to Islamabad on Friday “to further negotiate a conclusive agreement aimed at resolving all disputes.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that discussions about in-person meetings are ongoing, but emphasized that “nothing is final until announced by the President or the White House.”
UNI AAB PRS