Iran US Agree Ceasefire, Talks Begin Soon

Iran has agreed to a two-week ceasefire in its conflict with the United States, according to its Supreme National Security Council. The country also said it will begin talks with the US in Islamabad starting Friday. However, Iran warned that this ceasefire does not mean the war is over and said it will respond strongly to any attack or provocation.

Donald Trump said the US will pause plans to expand attacks, including strikes on civilian infrastructure, as long as Iran follows the ceasefire and reopens the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, he had warned of major destruction if no agreement was reached, which drew criticism from many leaders.

Both countries have shown signs of reducing tensions, but there is still uncertainty. It is not fully clear when the ceasefire will begin, and there have been reports of missile alerts in some areas. A US official said that offensive military actions have stopped for now, but defensive operations are still ongoing. Some Iran-linked attacks have also continued in certain places despite efforts to calm the situation.

China, which is Iran’s biggest trading partner, quietly encouraged Iran to accept the ceasefire. It worked through countries like Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt to help reduce tensions.

There is also a new idea being discussed where Iran and Oman could charge fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. This could have a big impact on global trade.

After news of the ceasefire, oil prices dropped quickly, and global markets improved. However, there are still concerns about how long the ceasefire will last. Differences in understanding the peace plan and demands like possible withdrawal of US troops from the region are still major issues.