Iran accepts ceasefire—but warns 'our hands remain on the trigger'

Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, stepping back from earlier threats of strikes on key infrastructure. The announcement came hours after he warned that "a whole civilisation will die tonight", signalling a sharp shift in tone.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump said the United States had agreed to pause hostilities following a proposal by Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir. A key condition of the plan is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage that carries nearly 20 percent of global oil shipments.

Trump called it a "double-sided ceasefire" and said that US has "already met and exceeded all military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning long-term peace with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East.

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"Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated," Trump said.

"It is an honor to have this longterm problem close to resolution," he added.

Hormuz reopening at the centre of deal

Trump made it clear the ceasefire hinges on Tehran's cooperation. He said it was "subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz".

Iran responded positively. Foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed acceptance of the proposal, stating, "If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations."

He added that for two weeks, safe passage through the Strait would be ensured in coordination with Iran's military, noting "technical limitations".

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Proposals, mediation and next steps

Trump also revealed that Washington had received a ten-point proposal from Tehran, calling it "a workable basis on which to negotiate". The US is expected to use the two-week window to push for a broader agreement.

The conflict, which began on February 28, has taken a heavy toll. More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran. In Lebanon, fighting involving Hezbollah has left over 1,500 dead and displaced more than one million. Casualties have also been reported in Israel and among US forces.

Despite the pause, Iran has maintained that reopening Hormuz was previously tied to a full peace settlement, underlining the fragility of the current agreement.

Iran's warning

Minutes after US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, Tehran accepted the deal. In a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Iran's Foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote, "If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations."

In his statement, Araghchi expressed gratitude and appreciation for his "dear brothers", Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir. He thanked them for their "tireless efforts to end the war in the region."

However, Iran made it clear that a ceasefire does not mean the end of the war. Its hands remain on the trigger in case the enemy, either the US or Israel, acts in any way.

In a statement released after announcing the ceasefire, Iran's Supreme National Security Council said, "It is emphasised that this does not signify the termination of the war. Our hands remain on the trigger, and if the enemy makes even the slightest mistake, it will be met with full force."

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Tehran confirmed that talks will take place in Islamabad on Friday, April 10, and will last two weeks, with the possibility of extension if both sides agree.

"During this period, it is essential to maintain complete national unity and to continue victory celebrations with strength," it added.