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US-Iran Ceasefire Brings Hope for Peace, Strait of Hormuz Reopening

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, urging all parties to comply with international law. The ceasefire was announced by US President Donald Trump, conditional on Iran agreeing to the safe reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stated Tehran would halt defensive operations if attacks against it stop, signaling tentative acceptance. The development follows intense backchannel diplomacy and aims to facilitate a longer-term peace agreement.

Key Points: US-Iran Two-Week Ceasefire Announced, UN Chief Welcomes Move

  • UN chief welcomes ceasefire
  • Two-week pause conditional on Strait reopening
  • Iran signals tentative acceptance
  • Backchannel diplomacy led to deal
  • Israel also agrees to pause
2 min read

UN chief welcomes US-Iran ceasefire, calls on parties involved to comply with international law

UN's Guterres welcomes US-Iran ceasefire. Trump announces conditional two-week pause for Strait of Hormuz reopening. Iran signals tentative acceptance.

UN chief welcomes US-Iran ceasefire, calls on parties involved to comply with international law
"If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations. - Seyed Abbas Araghchi"

New York, April 8

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of two-week ceasefire by the US and Iran and urged all the parties involved in the ongoing conflict in West Asia to comply with their obligations under international law and abide by the terms of ceasefire.

Guterres stressed that an end to hostilities is urgently needed to "protect the lives of people and alleviate human suffering". He expressed appreciation for countries involved in facilitating the ceasefire.

According to the statement, Guterres' Personal Envoy Jean Arnault is in the region to support efforts toward lasting peace.

Guterres' statement came after US President Donald Trump announced a conditional two-week pause in planned attacks tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a development that came as a big relief to people across the world.

The decision came 90 minutes before the self-imposed 8 pm EST deadline set by Trump for Iran to reach a deal, after backchannel diplomacy.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday (local time), said he would "suspend" an escalation of attacks for two weeks if Iran agrees to open the key shipping route.

"The reason for doing so is that 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," Trump wrote.

He added that the United States had received "a 10-point proposal from Iran" that was "a workable basis on which to negotiate."

Trump said "almost all of the various points of past contention" had been agreed, and the two-week pause would allow the agreement "to be finalised and consummated."

The ceasefire is conditional. Trump said it depends on Iran agreeing to the "complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz."

Iran signalled tentative acceptance. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would halt operations if attacks stop.

"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 said Israel had also agreed to the two-week pause, though details remain unclear.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Finally some good news! The last-minute diplomacy worked. As an Indian, I'm just glad our oil imports won't face immediate disruption. But two weeks is very short. They need to use this time wisely for a real agreement.
D
David E
While the ceasefire is welcome, the UN chief's call to comply with international law is crucial. The conditional nature and the 90-minute deadline drama show how fragile this is. The focus must be on alleviating human suffering, as Guterres said.
A
Ananya R
This is a positive step, but let's not celebrate too soon. We've seen such pauses before that fall apart. The involvement of a UN envoy is good. Hope India's diplomatic channels are also engaged, given our significant interests in the region.
S
Siddharth J
Good move by the UN. The world doesn't need another war. India has always advocated for peaceful dialogue. This development should help stabilize fuel prices back home, which is a big worry for the common man.
K
Kavya N
Respectfully, I have to point out that the article frames this mostly from a US perspective. What about the people of Iran and the surrounding nations who have borne the brunt of this tension? The ceasefire is for them. Hope it brings lasting peace.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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