About 90 minutes before his self-declared deadline to wipe out Iranian civilization, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire. For what it is worth, his characterization of Iran’s 10-point proposal as being “a workable basis” for negotiation stands out. Here is his full announcement, made at 6:32 p.m. ET tonight:
“Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! 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 Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate. 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. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this Longterm problem close to resolution. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP”
Some three hours earlier, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had called upon Trump to extend his deadline for another two weeks: “Diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future. To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks. Pakistan, in all sincerity, requests the Iranian brothers to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture. We also urge all warring parties to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks to allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted Tehran’s response to Sharif’s “brotherly request.” “If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations. 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.” He also cited the “announcement by POTUS about acceptance of the general framework of Iran’s 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations.”
Sharif posted his understanding that Israel is included in the ceasefire, announcing that Iran and the U.S., “along with their allies, have agreed to any immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.” He then invited the U.S. and Iranian delegation to Islamabad on Friday, April 10, “to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes.”
A White House official, not authorized to comment publicly, claimed that Israel has also agreed to the terms. However, at this point, over two hours after Trump’s announcement, there is a loud silence from the Israeli government, which today had already begun large-scale attacks on Iran’s civilian infrastructure.
