The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced this Tuesday on social networks that, after holding talks with Pakistani authorities, he has decided to postpone for two weeks the attack on Iranian critical infrastructure that he had threatened to carry out today if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz and that both parties have committed for the time being to a ceasefire during this period. Trump assured in a message on his social network Truth Social that he has made the decision thanks to the mediating efforts of Islamabad and on the condition that Tehran agrees in the future to the “complete, immediate and safe” opening of Hormuz. The Republican assured that he held talks today with the Prime Minister and the Chief of Staff of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir, and that both asked him to “contain the destructive force that was going to be sent to Iran tonight.” Trump had given Iran until 20:00 Washington time (00:00 GMT) today to reopen the strait (through which an important part of the hydrocarbons exported in the world passes), something that would help stabilize crude oil prices. The head of state had threatened to attack power plants and bridges and return Iran to the “Stone Age.” “Based on the conversations held with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and General Asim Munir, in which they asked me to contain the destructive force that was going to be sent to Iran tonight, 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 on Iran for a period of two weeks,” wrote Trump. “This will be a bilateral ceasefire! The reason for proceeding in this way is that we have already fulfilled and exceeded all military objectives, and we are in a very advanced stage towards a definitive agreement concerning a long-term peace with Iran, as well as peace in the Middle East,” adds the text. The New York tycoon insisted again that the 10-point plan presented by Iran yesterday represents an important step to achieve an agreement and highlighted that “it constitutes a viable basis on which to negotiate.” This latest Tehran counteroffer, conveyed through Pakistan, consisted of 10 points, among which are the end of hostilities in the region, a safe passage protocol through the Strait of Hormuz - which Iran keeps partially closed after the start of the war - and the lifting of sanctions. “An agreement has been reached between the United States and Iran regarding almost all past points of disagreement; however, a period of two weeks will allow said agreement to be finalized and consummated,” Trump assured, who considered that this “durable problem” between Washington and Tehran “is close to its resolution”.
