On the evening of the 7th of April, shortly before deadline, US President Donald Trump announced that the US and Iran had made significant progress on a peace deal and that he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire to allow talks to take place, writes the BBC.
Trump had previously promised that if Tehran did not agree to the American offer (which also includes opening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping), after midnight to the 8th of April he would order the destruction of all Iranian infrastructure. Iran has said that it will restore traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, but will retain control of it.
The ceasefire currently in force has allowed Trump to avoid an unpleasant choice. If Tehran had not conceded, the US president would have had to either carry out his threat that “all of civilization will perish tonight” or back down, which would in turn damage his image in the eyes of some voters. However, the relief is likely to be temporary.
Talks are scheduled to take place between the US and Iran over the next two weeks, which will also give time to reach a lasting solution. The talks are expected to be difficult, but the prospect of such talks has sent oil prices below 100 dollars a barrel since the ceasefire was announced. There seems to be a feeling that the worst is over.
As late as the morning of the 7th of April, even a temporary ceasefire seemed impossible.
It is not clear what prompted Tehran to decide to give in to the US demands. What is certain is that no US president has ever threatened or even hinted at destroying an entire civilization. Just two days earlier, Trump posted a similar, profanity-laced post on his social network Truth Social. Even if the two-week truce ends in permanent peace, the war in Iran and Trump’s statements have fundamentally changed the world’s view of the United States.
The nation that once presented itself as a builder of international stability is now undermining the foundations of international order. A president who has turned to disrupting generally accepted norms and order in domestic politics is now doing the same in global politics. Democrats were quick to condemn Trump’s statements on the 7th of April, and some suggested that Trump should resign. Congressman Joaquin Castro wrote on the X that Trump’s condition has deteriorated and he is no longer fit to lead the country. While Trump’s party, the Republicans, generally supported him, it was far from the unanimous support Trump usually enjoys. Several Republicans took to social media to say they did not support the threat to destroy civilization, stressing that it was not in line with the party’s or the United States’ values.
Nevertheless, the White House will likely insist that Trump’s words were the catalyst for the truce.
For a president whose popularity is falling, who is facing growing criticism from within his own party, and whose economy is struggling, any way out of the conflict will be a relief.
The Iranian armed forces have been badly damaged by the US and Israeli attacks, and while a number of regime leaders have been killed in the strikes, the Islamic fundamentalist leadership has managed to hold its ground. It is also unclear how many of the US’s stated goals have been achieved. The whereabouts of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles are unknown, and the regime still controls various regional groups, such as the Houthis in Yemen. Even if Iran were to fully open the Strait of Hormuz, its ability to completely control the narrow waterway is clearly evident.
Read also: Ukraine: Russia provides cyber support and intelligence to Iran