SRINAGAR: The United States and Iran have entered a fragile two-week ceasefire, bringing a temporary halt to nearly six weeks of intense conflict, even as both sides signalled that the truce is conditional and far from a permanent resolution.
The ceasefire, announced by US President Donald Trump just hours before a deadline for major military escalation, is contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and suspending attacks. Tehran has indicated it will allow controlled passage through the vital waterway, a move seen as central to easing global energy disruptions caused by the conflict.
While Washington has described the agreement as a significant breakthrough, Iran has framed it as a tactical pause. The country’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei ordered military forces to stop firing but warned that the ceasefire does not mark the end of the war, with authorities maintaining that their forces remain ready to respond to any provocation.
The agreement follows weeks of escalating threats and backchannel diplomacy, including mediation efforts involving regional actors. Negotiations are now expected to take place in Islamabad, where both sides will attempt to convert the temporary truce into a more durable settlement.
At the core of the talks is a revised Iranian proposal that Washington has described as a “workable basis” for negotiations, even as key differences persist over sanctions, military presence and Iran’s nuclear programme. Despite the pause in direct confrontation, reports of continued sporadic strikes have underscored the fragility of the arrangement.
President Trump has characterised the ceasefire as a “total and complete victory,” asserting that US military objectives have been achieved within weeks of operations. The White House has also pointed to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as a critical outcome, with global oil markets reacting sharply—prices falling and equities rising on expectations of reduced supply disruptions.
However, major questions remain unresolved, including the status of Iran’s enriched uranium and the extent of any future US military presence in the region. Analysts have warned that without substantive agreement on these issues, the current ceasefire may only provide a brief reprieve.
Amid these developments, Israel moved quickly to clarify its position. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country supports the US-led ceasefire effort against Iran but stressed that the arrangement “does not include Lebanon,” indicating that Israeli operations linked to Hezbollah are not covered under the truce framework.
The exclusion highlights the complex, multi-front nature of the conflict, suggesting that even as Washington and Tehran step back from direct confrontation, tensions across the wider region are likely to persist.
