US-Iran Negotiations Begin, Trump Announces Two-Week Ceasefire

Negotiations could begin between the US and Iran on Friday, and Donald Trump has confirmed a two-week ceasefire between the two countries.

Several days ago, US President Donald Trump announced that he would launch a full-scale, massive attack on Iran by Tuesday evening if the Strait of Hormuz had not been opened. He threatened on Truth Social that a "whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" if the strait was not opened– a threat that even many Republicans perceived as apocalyptic and brutal.

However, just hours before the deadline, Pakistan proposed a two-week ceasefire during which all American military attacks would halt, and Iran would facilitate passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Both countries agreed, guaranteeing two weeks without military warfare between the US and Iran.

Meanwhile, Iran has proposed a 10-point counterproposal in response to the United States' initial plan. The counterproposal includes the lifting of all sanctions on Iran, a complete end to all attacks on Iran and its allies, total military withdrawal of the US from the Middle East, reparations for the damage done to Iran, and establishes Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz. These demands have been seen as incredibly extreme, though, and will serve as the starting point for possible negotiations.

Iran stated that the talks are set to take place in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Friday, but the White House has not confirmed the negotiations yet. If they do take place, it could finally bring an end to a conflict between the US and Iran that has lasted more than 40 days.

Nevertheless, Israel later added that Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire, meaning that they will continue to bombard the Middle Eastern nation in order to destroy Hezbollah– an Iran-backed militant group. Many supporters believe in Israel's cause, as Lebanon has declared Hezbollah enemies of the state but lacks the firepower to eliminate them.

Others claim Israel has gone too far and is using Hezbollah as a guise to justify the destruction of Lebanon, allowing them to push forward a far-right plan for Greater Israel, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly endorsed. The plan would see Israel capture territory all over the Middle East, including Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and parts of Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.

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Image credit to The New York Times