The whole world witnessed a frantic, trigger-happy negotiation effort as Iran and the US reached a temporary ceasefire.
Yesterday was one of the most tense nights in recent years, with Iranian missiles being launched at various points in the Middle East and American bombers already on operational orbit, as time counted down towards a catastrophic military escalation.
However, less than 90 minutes before the deadline, an agreement for a temporary two-week ceasefire was announced, giving a sigh of relief to the entire world, the Daily Mail reports.
The US had issued a clear ultimatum to Tehran that if Iran did not fully open the Strait of Hormuz by 3am (UTC), a massive attack would be launched against critical infrastructure, such as bridges, power plants and transportation networks. The prospect of such an operation has sparked global concern, as it could lead to an uncontrolled escalation in an already fragile region.
The intervention of Pakistan, which took the initiative to mediate between the two sides, reportedly played a decisive role in the de-escalation. The country's prime minister made a public appeal for a two-week ceasefire, emphasizing that diplomatic efforts were progressing vigorously and that there was room for a peaceful resolution to the crisis. Within a short time, both Washington and Tehran were informed of the proposal and began intensive negotiations.
“Diplomatic efforts for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, dynamically and decisively,” wrote Sebaz Sharif in X, calling for a two-week ceasefire between all parties involved.
Missiles were falling in the Middle East while they were negotiating
Despite the talks, the situation on the ground remained extremely tense. Missiles and drones were spotted moving in various directions, while countries in the region were forced to activate their air defense systems to protect urban centers and strategic installations. Even as the hour approached, missiles continued to fall across the Middle East, as Israel, the UAE, and Qatar were forced to intercept several drones heading towards cities within their borders.
At the same time, American military aircraft had already been put on alert, which heightened fears of immediate large-scale military involvement.
As the deadline approached, international analysts were talking about one of the most critical moments in recent decades. The media constantly reported information about intensive consultations, while sources said that there were signs of a positive response from the Iranian side. Shortly before 12 midnight, CNN reported, citing a local source, that “good news is expected soon from both sides,” adding that the agreement was expected to be completed on Tuesday night into Wednesday.
The dramatic reversal, 90 minutes before the deadline
The dramatic reversal came at 1:32 a.m., when the decision to suspend the attacks for two weeks was announced, on the condition that Iran fully and safely open the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement marked a temporary truce and raised hopes for a broader peace agreement in the Middle East.
In a social media post, the US president said: “Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan, during which they asked me to suspend the destructive force being sent to Iran tonight, and provided that the Islamic Republic of Iran agrees to the FULL, IMMEDIATE and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I am agreeing to suspend bombing and attacks against Iran for a period of two weeks.”
"This will be a mutual OPERATION! The reason we are doing this is that we have already achieved and exceeded all military objectives, and are well advanced in terms of a definitive Agreement for Long-Term PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East."
“We have received a 10-point proposal from Iran and we believe it constitutes a workable basis for negotiations. Almost all of the various points of previous disagreements have been agreed upon between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow for the finalization and completion of the agreement.”
Iran accepted the ceasefire proposal after intense diplomatic efforts by Pakistan and a last-minute intervention by China, Tehran officials told the New York Times.
They said the ceasefire was approved by the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, and they agreed to reopen the Straits in the next two weeks under the coordination of his military.
Negotiations on Friday
Iran's Supreme National Security Council said negotiations with the US would take place in Islamabad starting Friday.
At the same time, Tehran made it clear that the ceasefire does not mean the end of the war, stressing that its armed forces remain on full alert. Iranian authorities warned that any violation of the ceasefire agreement would be dealt with decisively, maintaining a high level of tension despite diplomatic progress.
Meanwhile, military operations that preceded the agreement had already caused serious damage to critical infrastructure, while the presence of military forces in the area reinforced the sense that the crisis remains fragile. Analysts estimate that the next two weeks will be decisive for the course of the negotiations and whether the ceasefire will turn into a permanent peace agreement.
Source: iefimerida.gr
