Celebrations have erupted in Tehran following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, which will allow for the initiation of peace negotiations. The temporary cessation of hostilities comes into effect, with talks scheduled to begin on Friday in Pakistan, after US President Donald Trump declared he would suspend military operations if Tehran fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's foreign minister confirmed that safe passage through this critical waterway will be coordinated with Iranian armed forces during the two-week period.
The breakthrough was facilitated after Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged Trump to extend his negotiation deadline and called on Iran to restore access to the strait. Iranian officials are portraying the ceasefire as a "victory," claiming that their preconditions for negotiations have been accepted by the US regime. They assert that Trump's acknowledgement of progress on major points of contention validates Iran's position, with government representatives telling citizens that this outcome stems from national unity, patience, and military strength during the conflict.
The officials note that the initial US-Israeli strategy – attempting to collapse the Iranian government through targeted assassinations of leadership – failed. The subsequent weeks of conflict have, in their view, demonstrated Iran's capability to sustain military operations and defend itself indefinitely. In contrast, Trump characterized the agreement as a "total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it," in a brief telephone interview with the AFP news agency shortly after announcing the deal. He added that Iran's uranium stockpiles would be "perfectly taken care of" under the terms, and acknowledged China's role in facilitating the negotiations.
Despite the truce, Democratic lawmakers say they will continue to pursue Trump's impeachment, citing his "genocidal" and "unhinged" rhetoric towards Iran. This ongoing political friction within the US regime highlights the deep divisions and challenges in achieving a lasting peace, even as temporary measures are put in place. The ceasefire, while a step forward, raises questions about the sustainability of negotiations and the broader geopolitical tensions involving key allies and adversaries in the region.
Source: www.aljazeera.com