India Welcomes US-Israel-Iran Ceasefire Deal

India welcomed a two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States, Israel, and Iran on Wednesday, describing it as a crucial step toward de-escalation in West Asia amid a conflict that has disrupted global energy supplies and caused widespread human suffering.

The conditional truce, announced late Tuesday by U.S. President Donald Trump, suspends planned military actions in exchange for Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway handling about 20 percent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas trade. Trump stated on social media that the pause followed discussions with Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, who urged restraint. He noted that military objectives had been met and that negotiations were advancing on a long-term peace deal, with initial talks set for April 10 in Islamabad.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed the agreement, saying Tehran's armed forces would halt defensive operations if attacks ceased. Passage through the strait would occur under Iranian military supervision for the two-week period, considering technical constraints. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed...