Trump Announces Two-Week Pause in Iran Operations

President Donald Trump announced a two-week pause in military operations against Iran on Tuesday night, averting planned strikes on the country's critical infrastructure and opening a window for negotiations. The decision came hours after an 8 p.m. Eastern Time deadline he had set for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which about 20 percent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes.

The pause follows five weeks of conflict that began on February 28, aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Trump conditioned the agreement on Iran's commitment to the complete, immediate and safe opening of the strait, according to his statement. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed the two-week period, stating that safe passage would be possible through coordination with Iranian armed forces, considering technical limitations.

Negotiations, mediated by countries including Pakistan, had intensified in recent days. Iran rejected a proposed 45-day ceasefire but submitted its own 10-point framework, which officials described as a basis for talks. The proposal includes establishing a toll system for commercial shipping through the...