Overview
- A two-week truce announced Tuesday commits Iran to grant safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz and sets U.S.–Iran talks for Friday in Pakistan.
- The United States paused planned strikes under the deal, while Israeli forces continued hitting targets inside Iran despite the pause.
- The agreement followed a surge of attacks, including U.S. strikes on Kharg Island and Israeli hits on bridges, rail lines and power facilities that Iranian officials said killed civilians, as some Iranians formed human chains to guard plants.
- President Trump drove the deadline by warning he would destroy bridges and power plants and by saying “a whole civilization will die tonight,” comments that legal experts warned could point to war crimes or even genocidal threats.
- The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly one-fifth of global seaborne oil, and oil prices fell after the ceasefire announcement, though Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned the pause could end if red lines are crossed.