Ceasefire Halts US-Israel-Iran War, Tehran Voices Relief and Doubt

Tehran residents expressed a mix of relief and skepticism on Wednesday as a two-week ceasefire took hold in the war between the United States, Israel and Iran, pausing nearly six weeks of intense airstrikes that began on February 28. The truce, announced overnight by U.S. President Donald Trump, averts an immediate escalation that included threats to target Iran's power plants and infrastructure, and sets the stage for negotiations hosted by Pakistan, potentially starting as early as Friday.

The conflict erupted with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian military sites, which expanded to civilian infrastructure, bridges, factories and railways. Iranian officials reported thousands of deaths, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the war's first day, and widespread destruction that crippled the economy and displaced families. In response, Iran launched missiles and drones at U.S. bases and Gulf states, while briefly closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route. Trump had issued an ultimatum demanding its reopening, warning that failure would lead to the end of "a whole civilization" for Iran's more than 90 million people. The ceasefire entered force just...