Trump's Strategic Retreat and Acceptance of Iran's Conditions; Two-Week Ceasefire Centered on Tehran's 10-Point Plan

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Tehran: Hours before the end of his deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump announced his acceptance of a two-week ceasefire with Iran in a message on the social network “Truth Social”. The full text of the declaration is as follows:
“I agree to stop bombing and attacking Iran for two weeks. This will be a bilateral ceasefire! The reason for this is that we have already achieved and exceeded all military objectives and are making very good progress in reaching a final agreement for long-term peace with Iran and peace in the Middle East.

We have received a 10-point proposal from Iran and we believe that this is an acceptable basis for negotiations. Almost all points of past disagreement between the United States and Iran have been agreed upon, but the two-week period allows for the agreement to be finalized and completed.

"On behalf of the United States, as President, and as a representative of the countries of the Middle East, it is a great honor that this long-standing problem is now close to resolution. We have received a 10-point proposal from Iran that I believe can be a solid basis for negotiations."

The announcement came less than 24 hours after Trump warned: "If Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz, an entire civilization will be destroyed tonight and will never come back."

Israel also joins the ceasefire
In a significant development, CNN reported, citing a senior White House official, that Israel is also part of the two-week ceasefire announced by Donald Trump. CNN quoted the White House official as saying that Israel has also agreed to halt its bombing while negotiations continue.
This comes just 48 hours before the ceasefire was announced, Israeli media revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had warned Trump in a phone call not to sign a ceasefire with Iran at this stage. However, Trump appears unfazed by these warnings. American sources told CNN that the US President informed the Israeli Prime Minister that the ceasefire would go ahead if Iran agreed to US demands.

Reactions in the US; Confirmation of Iran’s historic victory
Chuck Schumer, the leader of the US Senate Democrats, wrote in response to the ceasefire: I am glad that Trump backed down and is desperately looking for any way to escape his ridiculous hype. Trump has given Iran control of the Strait of Hormuz, and this is a historic victory for Iran.
Chris Murphy, a prominent Democratic senator, also wrote: “It seems that Trump has just agreed to give Iran control of the Strait of Hormuz, a historic victory for Iran. The level of incompetence is both stunning and heartbreaking. What is going on?”
He added: “It is truly astonishing that we have come to this point; that Trump has taken military action that appears, at least for now, to have given Iran control of a vital waterway that it did not have before the war.”
On the other hand, US Congressman Jim McGovern, in a reference to Trump’s announcement of a two-week ceasefire, wrote: “So Trump will stop bombing Iran until Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz. A strait that was open before the Iran bombing began. I get it!”
A prominent Republican account also wrote in response to Trump’s ceasefire with Iran: What did we really gain from this war? Iran still has enriched uranium and most of its ballistic missiles, the Iranian government is still in power and has now shown that it can control the Strait of Hormuz, something it didn’t have before… Did I miss anything?

Islamabad Talks; A Prospect for Lasting Peace
Formal talks between Iran and the United States will begin on Friday in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, with Pakistani officials mediating. Trump has said that Iran’s 10-point proposal is “an acceptable basis for negotiations” and that “almost all of the points of past disagreement have been agreed upon.”