US and Iran agree to two week ceasefire as Trump pulls back on ‘end of civilization’ threat

By Bassem Mroue, Jon Gambrell and Samy Magdy

United States President Donald Trump pulled back on his threats to launch devastating strikes on Iran on Tuesday, as the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire that includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump swerved to deescalate the war less than two hours before the deadline he set for Tehran to capitulate to a deal or face attacks on its bridges and power plants meant to destroy Iranian “civilization.”

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said it has accepted the ceasefire and that it would negotiate with the United States in Islamabad, starting on Friday.

Neither Iran nor the United States said when the ceasefire would begin. Attacks were still taking place in Israel, Iran and across the Gulf region early on Wednesday.

Israel has also agreed to the ceasefire,