By Gloria Nosa
Shipping activities through the Strait of Hormuz are set to resume after Iran confirmed a temporary two-week ceasefire agreement with the United States, a development expected to ease tensions and stabilise global energy markets.
The announcement was reported early Wednesday by Iran’s Tasnim news agency, which has close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that navigation through the strategic waterway would be permitted for two weeks, with operations coordinated by Iran’s armed forces and subject to technical considerations.
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz was reportedly a key demand from U.S. President Donald Trump, who had earlier warned of potential strikes on Iran’s energy facilities and critical infrastructure, including bridges, if Tehran failed to comply before a midnight GMT deadline.
The vital maritime corridor, responsible for a significant portion of global oil and gas shipments, had been largely shut since February 28, when the United States and Israel carried out extensive military strikes against Iranian targets.
A senior U.S. official indicated that Israel would also observe the temporary truce, which Trump described as a “two-sided ceasefire,” aimed at reducing hostilities across the region.
Pakistan, which played a mediating role in the negotiations between Washington and Tehran, confirmed that the ceasefire had taken effect immediately. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on social media that both nations, along with their respective allies, had agreed to halt hostilities across multiple fronts, including Lebanon.
Sharif welcomed the development and invited delegations from both countries to Islamabad for further discussions aimed at reaching a long-term resolution.
Trump also revealed that Sharif had urged him to hold off on planned strikes, while adding that the United States had received a 10-point proposal from Iran. According to Trump, the proposal offers a workable framework for continued negotiations.
The temporary truce and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz are expected to reduce immediate geopolitical tensions and bring short-term relief to global oil markets, though uncertainty remains over whether a lasting agreement can be achieved.
