Trump, Israel agree to two‑week ceasefire; Iran says talks start on Friday in Pakistan
US President Donald Trump says he's pulling back on his threats to widen attacks in Iran to include an array of bridges, power plants and other civilian targets, subject to Iran agreeing to a two-week ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Gulf countries are on high alert, working to intercept potential missile and drone attacks. Follow our live blog below for the latest developments.
UN chief 'welcomes' two-week US-Iran ceasefire
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the US-Iran two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, his spokesperson said, while urging all parties to work toward long-term peace in the Middle East.
"The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement of a two-week ceasefire by the United States and Iran," his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
He added that the UN chief "calls on all the parties to the current conflict in the Middle East to comply with their obligations under international law and to abide by the terms of the ceasefire in order to pave the way toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region."
Israel backs US decision for temporary ceasefire in Iran
Israel said Wednesday it supported US President Donald Trump's decision to suspend bombing of Iran for two weeks as part of a ceasefire deal if Tehran reopens the vital Strait of Hormuz.
"Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region," the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
"Israel also supports the US effort to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat to America, Israel, Iran's Arab neighbors and the world," the statement added.
Israel PM's office says US-Iran ceasefire 'does not include Lebanon'
Israel said Wednesday that a US-Iran ceasefire deal "does not include Lebanon", which was drawn into the war after Iran-backed group Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel.
"The two-weeks ceasefire does not include Lebanon," the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
The statement contradicted an earlier announcement by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has acted as a mediator in the conflict, that said the ceasefire covers "everywhere including Lebanon".
Trump says Iran's uranium will be 'perfectly taken care of'
US President Donald Trump told AFP on Tuesday that Iran's uranium would be "perfectly taken care of" under a two-week ceasefire deal with Tehran.
"That will be perfectly taken care of or I wouldn't have settled," Trump said in a telephone interview when asked about what would happen to Iran's enriched uranium.
Trump says he believes China got Iran to negotiate
US President Donald Trump told AFP he believed China had helped get Iran to the negotiating table to agree a two-week ceasefire deal.
"I hear yes," Trump said in a telephone call when asked if Beijing was involved in getting key ally Tehran to negotiate on a truce.
Trump is due to travel to Beijing in May to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump: Iran deal a 'total and complete victory' for US
President Donald Trump told AFP on Tuesday that the United States had won a "total and complete victory" after agreeing a two-week ceasefire deal with Iran.
"Total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it," Trump said in a brief telephone interview shortly after the announcement of the truce.
NATO chief set for Trump talks as US-Iran truce begins
NATO chief Mark Rutte will hold talks with Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday, one day after the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire.
The US president has expressed anger at Western partners' refusal to back his war on Iran, rocking the 77-year-old transatlantic alliance.
He branded NATO partners "cowards" for limiting US forces' access to bases on their territories and for refusing to lead efforts to open the Strait of Hormuz.
But NATO's secretary-general touts a record of pulling Trump back onside - and will be looking to do so again when he meets the president, as well as US top diplomat Marco Rubio and defense chief Pete Hegseth.
NATO has been thrust repeatedly into crisis since Trump returned to power last year - most acutely by his threat to seize the vast Arctic island of Greenland from fellow member Denmark.
That followed him pulling the rug from under Ukraine in its war against Russia, threats not to protect allies if they don't spend more on defence, and warnings that Washington could pull troops from Europe.
Ceasefire deal a 'victory' for the US: White House
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday praised the two-week ceasefire in the Iran war, calling it a "victory" for the United States.
"This is a victory for the United States that President Trump and our incredible military made happen," Leavitt wrote on X.
"The success of our military created maximum leverage, allowing President Trump and the team to engage in tough negotiations that have now created an opening for a diplomatic solution and long-term peace."
