WASHINGTON DC: The United States and Iran have indicated willingness to agree to a conditional ceasefire, with a key focus on ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump said he would support a proposed two-week ceasefire provided that shipping traffic is allowed to move freely through the strategic waterway.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran is open to ending hostilities, but only if attacks against Iran are halted.
Earlier, Trump had issued a stark warning, setting a deadline of 20:00 EDT (01:00 GMT) for an agreement, cautioning that failure to reach a deal could have devastating consequences.
Pakistan, which has been mediating between the two sides, urged the US to extend the deadline by two weeks to allow diplomatic efforts to continue.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis condemned threats against civilians in Iran as “unacceptable,” while António Guterres expressed deep concern over the escalating rhetoric.
In a separate development, Iranian state media reported that two people were killed in a strike on a bridge in Kashan, shortly after Israel issued warnings advising civilians to avoid train travel for safety reasons.
(Inputs from BBC)
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