A last-minute pause by Trump has opened a short diplomatic window, with Iran signalling cautious support, even as tensions over oil routes and regional security remain unresolved.
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Just ahead of a deadline he had set himself, US President Donald Trump stepped back from a possible military escalation with Iran, announcing a temporary pause in planned attacks. The move came barely 90 minutes before the cut-off time and has eased global concerns over a wider conflict.
The development follows weeks of rising tensions between Washington, Israel and Tehran, with the Strait of Hormuz at the centre of the crisis. The narrow waterway, vital for global oil trade, has seen disruptions that pushed up energy prices and raised fears of a broader regional war.
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Trump said the US would hold off further action for two weeks, but only if Iran allows full and safe passage through the strait. In a post on Truth Social, he described the move as a chance to move towards a long-term peace deal.
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“The reason for doing so is that we have 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,” Trump wrote.
He claimed that key military goals had already been achieved and that talks were progressing towards a wider agreement in the Middle East. According to Trump, Washington had received a “10-point proposal” from Iran, which he said could form the basis for negotiations.
The US President added that most earlier disagreements had been addressed, and the pause would help finalise a deal.
Iran indicated it may cooperate, though cautiously. Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would stop its operations if attacks against the country were halted.
He said Iran’s armed forces would allow limited movement through the strait for two weeks, subject to coordination and technical conditions.
“If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations,” he said, adding: “For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.”
A White House official said Israel had also agreed to the temporary pause, but details were not made public.
The announcement followed sharp rhetoric earlier in the day, when Trump warned of severe consequences if no deal was reached. Despite the pause, reports of missile and drone activity in parts of the Gulf after the announcement have raised doubts about how the truce will hold.
Diplomatic efforts at the United Nations have so far failed, with a proposal led by Bahrain to reopen the strait blocked by Russia and China.
Officials in Washington stressed that discussions are ongoing and no agreement is final yet.
The two-week window is now seen as a critical period. Key issues remain unresolved, including sanctions, Iran’s nuclear programme and control over the shipping route.
For countries like India, which depend heavily on oil coming from the Gulf, even a small disruption in this route or a fresh spike in tensions could quickly hit the economy hard.
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