Ceasefire Declared After 38 Days of War as Trump and Iran Reach Truce Deal
Thirty-eight days into the intense conflict, a significant ceasefire was officially declared early on Wednesday. Former US President Donald Trump successfully negotiated terms with Iran, agreeing to a temporary halt in military actions for a period of two weeks. This development marks a pivotal moment in what began as a joint American-Israeli campaign aimed at regime change in Tehran, which saw the elimination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the very first day of Trump's Operation Epic Fury.
Trump's Stark Warning Precedes Ceasefire
The ceasefire announcement came just one day after Trump issued a severe admonishment, warning that he would destroy the "whole civilization" of Iran if it failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This vital global oil and energy artery had been a focal point of the conflict, with its closure threatening international trade and energy supplies. As soon as the deal was finalized between Washington and Tehran, both sides quickly moved to claim victory, while Israel, the United States' key ally and partner in the war, also expressed support for the truce.
Khamenei Signals Negotiators to Explore Deal
According to an Axios report, officials in the US and Israel learned of a striking development on Monday, as President Trump's ultimatum loomed. Supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei had, for the first time since the war began, instructed his negotiators to move toward a deal. This information was confirmed by an Israeli official, a regional source, and another source familiar with the talks. While Trump was publicly threatening total annihilation, behind the scenes, there were clear signs of diplomatic momentum, though even those close to Trump remained uncertain about the outcome until the ceasefire was announced.
US forces in the Middle East and Pentagon officials were actively preparing for a massive bombing campaign on Iranian infrastructure, all while trying to gauge Trump's intentions. "We had no idea what was going to happen. It was wild," a defense official stated. Allies across the region braced for potential Iranian retaliation on an unprecedented scale, with some civilians in Iran fleeing their homes to escape the worst of the strikes. Axios based its account on conversations with eleven sources familiar with the negotiations.
Negotiations Intensify Amid Chaos
On Monday morning, as Trump mingled with the crowd at a White House Easter celebration, US envoy Steve Witkoff was described as "very angry" and working the phones. He called the 10-point counter-proposal just received from Iran "a disaster, a catastrophe," according to a source with direct knowledge. What followed was a chaotic day of revisions, with Pakistani mediators shuttling drafts between Witkoff and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi. The foreign ministers of Egypt and Turkey also worked to bridge gaps.
By Monday night, the US had approved an updated proposal for a two-week ceasefire, leaving the final decision to Khamenei, who was reportedly very active in the process on Monday and Tuesday. Khamenei's involvement was necessarily clandestine, as he faced an active Israeli assassination threat and communicated primarily via runners passing notes. Two sources described his approval for negotiators to cut a deal as a "breakthrough." Araghchi played a central role in persuading Revolutionary Guard commanders to accept the deal, while China advised Iran to seek an off-ramp. By the end of the day, all major decisions went through Khamenei. "Without his green light, there wouldn't have been a deal," a regional source told Axios.
Trump's Extreme Threat and Final Deal
Despite progress by Tuesday morning, Trump issued one of his most extreme threats: "A whole civilization will die tonight." Some US media outlets reported that Iran had walked away from talks in response, but sources indicated that momentum was actually building. US Vice President Vance coordinated from Hungary, mainly with the Pakistanis, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stayed in frequent contact with Trump and his team, though concerns grew that Israel had lost control of the process.
By around noon ET on Tuesday, the parties were converging on a two-week ceasefire. Three hours later, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted the terms on X, urging both sides to accept. Trump then fielded calls and texts from hawkish allies urging him to reject the deal, adding to the uncertainty. Multiple people who had spoken with Trump just an hour or two earlier believed he would spurn the offer, right up until he approved it.
Ceasefire Finalized and Questions Remain
Before posting his response, Trump consulted Netanyahu to secure his commitment to adhere to the ceasefire, then spoke to Pakistan army chief and de-facto head Asim Munir to finalize the deal. US forces received stand-down orders 15 minutes after Trump's post. Araghchi followed up, confirming Iran would adhere to the ceasefire and open the Strait of Hormuz to vessels "in coordination with Iran's armed forces."
The key questions now revolve around how fully Iran will allow shipping to resume and how steadfast Netanyahu will remain in honoring the ceasefire. A senior Israeli official told Axios that Netanyahu received assurances the US would insist in peace talks that Iran abandon nuclear enrichment and its ballistic missile program. Vance is expected to lead the US delegation in Pakistan on Friday, a high-stakes assignment in his career.
Gaps remain between the US and Iranian visions for a deal, leaving the possibility of renewed conflict. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt are expected to hold press conferences on Wednesday defending Trump's threats, arguing they made the deal possible. Meanwhile, the Iranian regime may still question whether Trump's threats are truly over, adding an element of uncertainty to the fragile peace.
