Trump Announces Two-Week Ceasefire With Iran, Contingent on Reopening of Key Shipping Route

President Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran Tuesday night, with negotiations toward a permanent end to the war now underway. The ceasefire hinges on what Trump called the "complete, immediate, and safe opening" of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which a significant portion of the world's oil supply travels. Trump added that the U.S. would help ease what he called a "traffic buildup" in the strait, and that "big money will be made."

The announcement came just 90 minutes before a deadline Trump himself had set, warning that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" if Iran failed to reach a deal. On Monday, he had threatened to destroy all of Iran's bridges and power plants, saying he wanted "complete demolition."

Iran's top diplomat said safe passage through the strait would be possible, though it would require coordination with Iran's armed forces. Iran's own peace proposal, which Trump called a "workable basis for negotiations," includes a demand for the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from all bases in the Middle East and continued controlled passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Both sides are claiming victory in the ceasefire, though Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) pushed back on that framing. "Donald Trump took a military action that has apparently, at least for the time being, given Iran control over a critical waterway that they did not have control over before the war began," he said.

Trump's threats drew sharp condemnation from Democrats, with some calling for impeachment or removal. Even some Republicans voiced unease. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) said, "I do not want to see us start blowing up civilian infrastructure. We are not at war with the Iranian people. We are trying to liberate them."