A state of astonishment prevailed within political and security circles in Tel Aviv following US President Donald Trump's sudden announcement of a temporary ceasefire with Iran. Media sources quoted an Israeli official as saying that the Israeli government received updates regarding this decision only at the last minute, indicating that the American move came after all details were settled away from full prior coordination with the Israeli side.
The US President had revealed on Wednesday morning via his 'Truth Social' platform his approval to suspend military operations and airstrikes against Iranian targets for two weeks. Trump stipulated for the continuation of this calm that Tehran commit to the full and immediate opening of the Strait of Hormuz to international navigation, emphasizing the necessity for the ceasefire to be mutual and bilateral to ensure the success of the initiative.
Trump explained that this shift in the American position came in response to mediation led by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, along with Pakistani Army Chief of Staff Asim Munir. The Pakistani leadership had asked Washington to stop using 'destructive force' against Iran, to which the White House responded on condition of ensuring the security of vital waterways in the region.
In the context of justifying the decision, the US President affirmed that his country's armed forces had already achieved all set military objectives, and even exceeded expectations in their recent operations. He indicated that the American administration had received a ten-point Iranian proposal, which he considered a practical basis for serious negotiation, stressing that most of the contentious points that were pending between Washington and Tehran had been almost agreed upon.
Trump concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the two-week period would be sufficient to finalize the agreement and implement it on the ground, considering himself a representative of the interests of Middle Eastern countries seeking stability. He described reaching a solution to this long-standing crisis as a 'great honor,' expressing his optimism about the imminent achievement of a lasting and comprehensive peace that would completely end the state of military tension in the region.
I agree to suspend bombing Iran and launching attacks on it for two weeks, and this will be a ceasefire from both sides.
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Tel Aviv expresses surprise at Trump's decision to cease fire with Iran