![\"Has](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-130100515,imgsize-27984,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/donald-trump-left-mojtaba-khamenie-file.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nUS President Donald Trump<\/a> has announced a two-week suspension of planned military strikes on Iran, linking the move to Iran\u2019s willingness to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and engage in negotiations. The temporary halt in hostilities between Washington and Tehran has offered a narrow window for diplomacy, but there is little indication yet that the conflict has fully subsided.The decision came after a serious escalation in rhetoric earlier in the day by Trump, threatening to destroy the entire civilization viz-a-viz Iran, followed by last-minute diplomatic intervention by the mediators in conflict. Trump said the US had already achieved its military objectives and suggested that both sides were close to a broader agreement. Iran, meanwhile, has signalled conditional cooperation. Its leadership has agreed to a temporary ceasefire window and proposed a comprehensive framework for ending the conflict, while making it clear that any halt in military operations depends on the cessation of attacks against it.However, developments on the ground, including missile activity across the Gulf and continued Israeli operations, reflect that the situation remains volatile. <\/p>\n The arrangement announced by the US is limited to a two-week period and is designed as a pause rather than a resolution. Trump described it as a \u201cdouble sided ceasefire,\u201d but officials on both sides have emphasised its conditional and reversible nature. Iran\u2019s supreme national security council has also clarified that the move \u201cdoes not signify the termination of the war,\u201d reinforcing that this is a tactical halt aimed at enabling negotiations rather than ending hostilities altogether. It said in a statement, \u201cIt is emphasized that this does not signify the termination of the war,\u201d the statement said. \u201cOur hands remain upon the trigger, and should the slightest error be committed by the enemy, it shall be met with full force,\u201d reported AP.<\/p>\n A key US demand is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor through which about 20% of the world\u2019s oil supplies passes. Trump has made its \u201ccomplete, immediate, and safe\u201d reopening a precondition for suspending strikes. Iran has agreed in principle but with caveats, stating that safe passage will be allowed only through coordination with its armed forces and subject to technical constraints. Iran since the beginning of the war has used Hormuz as a strategic lever.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Iran has not declared an unconditional halt to military operations. The country’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has said, \u201cIf attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations.\u201d The lack of trust between both sides has only deepened over the last month, and Araghchi\u2019s statement only makes it evident, where any violations could quickly unravel the arrangement. It also leaves room for interpretation on what constitutes \u201cdefensive operations.\u201d<\/p>\n During the two-week window, negotiations between the US and Iran are expected to take place in Islamabad. It comes as Trump, in his Truth Social post, said, “Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif<\/a> and Field Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran.\u201dIranian authorities have confirmed their participation, signalling a willingness to engage diplomatically after weeks of military escalation.<\/p>\n Tehran has put forward a sweeping 10 point-peace proposal to bring hostilities to end. The proposal goes beyond a temporary truce and calls for a comprehensive end to the conflict. Key demands include a permanent cessation of hostilities across multiple regions, including Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, lifting of US sanctions, release of frozen Iranian assets, and financial compensation for reconstruction.It also includes a commitment by Iran not to pursue nuclear weapons, positioning the proposal as a broader settlement framework.<\/p>\n A key difference has emerged between Iran\u2019s Farsi and English versions of its 10-point proposal, potentially complicating negotiations. According to AP, the Farsi-language version explicitly includes the phrase \u201cacceptance of enrichment\u201d in reference to Iran\u2019s nuclear programme, wording that was absent from the English version. It remains unclear why the term was omitted in translation, but the distinction is significant. Trump has maintained that ending Iran\u2019s nuclear programme entirely is a central objective of the conflict, and had earlier dismissed Tehran\u2019s proposal as \u201cfraudulent\u201d without providing details. The discrepancy could indicate unresolved differences on one of the most sensitive issues in the talks.<\/p>\n Even after the ceasefire declaration, multiple reports indicate ongoing hostilities. According to CNN, missile and drone threats were detected across the Gulf, with countries such as Qatar and the UAE working to intercept them. Israel also reported incoming missiles from Iran and continued its own strikes, highlighting the gap between political announcements and ground realities.<\/p>\n Trump has asserted that negotiations are already at an advanced stage, saying, \u201cAlmost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to.\u201d He also described Iran\u2019s proposal as a \u201cworkable basis\u201d for a final agreement. These claims suggest optimism from Washington, although key sticking points remain unclear.The ceasefire is not limited to the US and Iran alone. Pakistani leadership had a role in facilitating the pause, while statements suggest the arrangement may extend to other theatres such as Lebanon. At the same time, Gulf countries and Israel remain directly affected, with ongoing security alerts underscoring the broader regional dimension of the conflict.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s decentralised military command system means that ceasefire orders may not be implemented uniformly or immediately. While state media reported that the supreme leader had instructed all units to stop firing, the structure allows regional commanders a degree of autonomy. This could lead to delays or inconsistencies in adherence, increasing the risk of accidental escalation. <\/p>\n Despite the diplomatic opening, core disputes, including Iran\u2019s nuclear programme, regional influence, and long-standing geopolitical tensions, have not been settled. According to NYT, the ceasefire leaves intact critical concerns such as Iran\u2019s nuclear stockpile and the broader balance of power in the Middle East<\/a>. This suggests that even if the current pause holds, a lasting resolution will require far more extensive negotiations. <\/p>\n The US-Iran ceasefire represents a significant de-escalation, but it is not an end to the conflict. With conditions attached, military activity still being under way, and major issues unresolved, the situation remains precarious. The next two weeks of negotiations will be crucial in determining whether this pause can evolve into a durable agreement, or whether it remains a brief interruption in an ongoing war.<\/div>\n\n1. A temporary ceasefire
<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n2. The Strait of Hormuz is the central bargaining chip
<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n![\"Strait](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-130100723\/strait-of-hormuz.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n3. Iran\u2019s says ceasefire depends on reciprocity
<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n4. Formal talks are expected to begin in Islamabad
<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n5. Iran\u2019s 10-point peace framework
<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n6. Discrepancy over nuclear \u2018enrichment\u2019 raises fresh questions
<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n7. Military activity continues despite announcement
<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n8. The US claims major progress has already been made
<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n9. Iran\u2019s military structure may delay full compliance
<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n10. Fundamental issues behind war remain unresolved
<\/h3>\n<\/p>\nThe bottom line
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