US and Iran Claim Victories in Diplomatic Talks

US and Iran Reach Ceasefire Agreement Ahead of Trump’s Deadline

A two-week ceasefire has been agreed upon by the US and Iran, with both sides claiming victory in their conflict. The agreement was reached just before President Donald Trump’s apocalyptic deadline to take action against Iranian “civilisation” if a deal was not reached.

The ceasefire is believed to have been influenced by a 10-point proposal submitted by Iran, which was deemed “workable” by the US president. As part of the agreement, the US has suspended bombing operations in Iran for two weeks, while Iran has agreed to cease “defensive operations” and allow safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

The conflict has resulted in significant loss of life, with at least 2,076 people killed in US-Israeli strikes on Iran that began on February 28. The war has also disrupted global energy supplies, causing oil prices to surge.

Both sides are expected to continue talks in Islamabad from Friday, but analysts warn that some sticking points may reemerge as the negotiations progress. The US had previously issued a 15-point plan of demands, which Iran rejected as “excessive”. Iran had proposed its own 10-point plan in response, which was deemed “significant” by Trump but ultimately considered insufficient.

The agreement has been met with mixed reactions in Iran, where some have expressed anger and distrust towards the US. Analysts note that the pessimism in Iran is likely due to past escalations during negotiations, including the US-Israeli strikes on February 28th and last June’s 12-day war.

Details of the agreement remain unclear, but both sides appear to have shifted from their earlier stated red lines. The sticking points that could complicate the upcoming talks are yet to be determined.

Source: Al Jazeera