'Big day for world peace': Trump hails US-Iran ceasefire, says Iran can start reconstruction
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Washington: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday called the two-week ceasefire with Iran a "big day for World Peace," saying Iran had "had enough" and could now begin reconstruction.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said the US would help clear the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz, with American troops "hangin' around" to ensure smooth progress.
"A big day for World Peace! Iran wants it to happen, they’ve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else! The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process. We’ll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just 'hangin' around' in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will. Just like we are experiencing in the US, this could be the Golden Age of the Middle East!" Trump wrote.
The announcement came 90 minutes before Trump's self-imposed 8 p.m. EST deadline for Iran to agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, following intense backchannel diplomacy.
On Tuesday, Trump had posted on Truth Social that he would suspend escalation for two weeks if Iran opened the key shipping route. He credited talks with Pakistan for a "double-sided ceasefire."
"We have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning long-term peace with Iran, and peace in the Middle East," he wrote.
Trump said the US had received a "10-point proposal from Iran" that provided a "workable basis" for negotiations. He noted that "almost all of the various points of past contention" had been resolved, with the pause allowing time to finalize the deal.
The ceasefire is conditional on Iran ensuring the "complete, immediate, and safe opening" of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi signalled tentative acceptance.
"If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations," he said.
"For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," he added.
A White House official confirmed Israel had also agreed to the pause, though details were unclear.
The de-escalation followed Trump's earlier stark warning that "a whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again " if no deal was reached.
The Strait of Hormuz closure has disrupted global oil supplies and driven up prices.
(Inputs from IANS)
