Trump agrees to suspend 'bombing and attack' of Iran for 2 weeks

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump has agreed to suspend the "bombing and attack of Iran" for two weeks following a conversation with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, according to the president's Truth Social account. 

What they're saying:

"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," the post read. 

Iran accepts 2-week ceasefire deal

Iran's Supreme National Security Council said on Tuesday it has accepted the two-week ceasefire deal. 

The president shared Iran's official statement on his Truth Social account: 

"On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I express gratitude and appreciation for my dear brothers HE Prime Minister of Pakistan Sharif and HE Field Marshal Munir for their tireless efforts to end the war in the region. In response to the brotherly request of PM Sharif in his tweet, and considering the request by the U.S. for negotiations based on its 15-point proposal as well as announcement by POTUS about acceptance of the general framework of Iran's 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations, I hereby declare on behalf of Iran's Supreme Natioanl Security Council: If attacks against Iran are halted, our Power 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." 

Pakistan PM proposed temporary ceasefire

On Tuesday, Sharif urged both sides to temporarily halt hostilities. Less than five hours before Trump’s deadline, Sharif posted onto X that  diplomatic efforts at a settlement were "progressing steadily, strongly, and powerfully."

In his post, Sharif proposed the United States delay the looming 8 p.m. deadline for two weeks to give the talks a chance to succeed. If the deadline were put on hold, He asked Iran to respond by opening the Strait of Hormuz during that time, a move he described as a goodwill gesture. 

Sharif concluded his post by asking all nations involved in the conflict to observe a ceasefire for those two weeks, saying it could, "allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region."

Within an hour, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran was "positively reviewing" the idea, while the White House had said officials were aware of the plan, and "a response will come."

US gives ultimatum

Dig deeper:

The president expanded his threat against Iran to include all power plants and bridges Monday as his ultimatum to make a deal ticked closer on Tuesday. 

Tehran already rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal and said it wanted a permanent end to the war.

Trump shared a new threat to Iran earlier on Tuesday, saying "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" if his deadline is not met. 

The president's deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was set for 8 p.m. 

The U.S. has told Iran to open the crucial Strait of Hormuz to all shipping traffic or see power plants and bridges wiped out.

Iran war

The backstory:

On Feb. 29, the U.S. and Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran, targeting military sites and killing the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 

The strikes aimed to disable Iran’s nuclear capabilities and give the people of Iran an opportunity to reclaim their country, according to Trump.

In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes and tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, threatening the world’s energy supply. 

More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran since the war began, but the government has not updated the toll for days.

In Lebanon, where Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, more than 1,500 people have been killed and more than 1 million people have been displaced. Eleven Israeli soldiers have died there.

In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 23 have been reported dead in Israel, and 13 U.S. service members have been killed.

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