Trump Backs Down From Iran Bombing Deadline, Agrees to Two-Week Ceasefire

Eleventh-Hour Deal Cancels Bombing Campaign

Donald Trump called off a planned bombing campaign against Iran on Tuesday evening, agreeing to a two-week ceasefire less than two hours before his self-imposed deadline to strike the country's power plants and bridges. The provisional deal, mediated by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, requires Iran to immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for suspending US military operations.

Hours earlier, Trump had written on Truth Social that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again." American B-52 bombers were reportedly en route to Iran when the ceasefire was announced. Legal scholars and officials from multiple countries, including the pope, had warned that the planned strikes could constitute war crimes.

The about-face marks a significant retreat for Trump after five weeks of military conflict that has failed to force Tehran's surrender or break its control over the strait, which carries a fifth of global energy supplies.

Conflicting Terms and Unclear Commitments

The ceasefire framework remains clouded in confusion. Iran released two different versions of the 10-point negotiation plan that Trump called a "workable basis" for talks. The Farsi version includes language about "acceptance of enrichment" for Iran's nuclear program, but that phrase is missing from English versions shared with journalists. No explanation has been provided for the discrepancy.

Pakistan invited both countries to talks in Islamabad on Friday. Iran confirmed it would attend, but the US has not publicly accepted the invitation.

Israel's position was unclear for hours after the announcement. Just before midnight Eastern time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel supported the US ceasefire with Iran but insisted the deal did not cover fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon. This directly contradicts Pakistan's statement that the ceasefire covered "everywhere including Lebanon."

Attacks Continue Despite Ceasefire Announcement

Despite the provisional agreement, military operations continued across the region in the hours after Trump's announcement. Before the 8pm deadline, airstrikes hit two bridges and a train station in Iran. US forces also struck military infrastructure on Kharg Island, a critical hub for Iranian oil production.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed Tehran's agreement to the ceasefire, stating that "safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordinating with Iran's Armed Forces" for the two-week period.

Trump claimed in a phone call with Agence France-Presse that China had persuaded Iran to negotiate, and insisted Tehran's enriched uranium would be "perfectly taken care of" without providing details. He declared Tuesday "a big day for world peace" and claimed Iran "had enough," adding that the US would help with "traffic buildup" in the strait and that "big money will be made" as Iran begins reconstruction.

Markets React, Officials Urge Caution

Oil prices dropped and stocks surged Wednesday morning as traders bet on resumed energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The dollar weakened in what analysts called a relief rally.

But government officials worldwide urged caution about declaring the crisis over. Australia's Energy Minister Chris Bowen warned citizens not to expect immediate price relief, saying "we welcome progress, but I don't think we can say the [Strait of Hormuz is] now open."

Iraq's foreign ministry called for "serious and sustainable dialogue" to address root causes of the conflict. Germany's foreign minister said the deal "must be the crucial first step towards lasting peace, for the consequences of the war continuing would be incalculable."

Pattern of Manufactured Crisis

The provisional ceasefire follows a familiar pattern for Trump: escalate tensions to the brink of catastrophe, then claim credit for stepping back from a crisis of his own making. The president had previously set and ignored multiple deadlines during the five-week conflict.

The war with Iran has served as a convenient distraction from domestic scandals and legal troubles, while allowing Trump to project strength to his base. But the economic costs have been severe, with fuel prices spiking globally and supply chains disrupted by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Whether this two-week pause leads to genuine de-escalation or simply delays another round of brinkmanship remains to be seen. What's clear is that Trump manufactured a crisis that brought the world to the edge of a catastrophic regional war, then demanded praise for agreeing not to bomb a country that posed no imminent threat to the United States.

The next two weeks will reveal whether this ceasefire represents a genuine diplomatic breakthrough or just another chapter in Trump's pattern of using foreign conflicts to serve his political interests.