WASHINGTON,(Parliament Times):US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the United States would engage with Iran on possible tariff adjustments and sanctions relief following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire that halted more than a month of hostilities.
In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump stated that Washington would work closely with Tehran and discuss economic measures as part of broader efforts to stabilise relations after the temporary truce. He added that several points of a potential agreement had already been settled.
The ceasefire was announced earlier by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who said both sides, along with their allies, had agreed to an immediate halt in fighting “everywhere, including Lebanon.” He also invited delegations from the United States and Iran to Islamabad on April 10 for negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent settlement.
Trump approved the two-week truce shortly before a deadline he had set for Tehran to reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had blockaded during the conflict. The waterway is a key global energy route that normally handles around one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments.
Welcoming the development, Trump described the agreement as a “big day for world peace” and said the United States would also help address the backlog of shipping traffic in the strait.
According to the US president, the temporary deal includes Iran’s commitment to halt counter-attacks and ensure safe navigation through the waterway. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Tehran would stop retaliatory strikes and facilitate safe passage for oil and gas shipments.
Trump also warned that any country supplying military equipment to Iran would face a 50 per cent tariff on goods exported to the United States, adding that the measure would take effect immediately and without exemptions.
Despite the ceasefire and easing tensions reflected in global financial markets, major disagreements between Washington and Tehran remain unresolved, with both sides maintaining different conditions for a comprehensive peace agreement.
The conflict, which has now entered its sixth week, has resulted in more than 5,000 deaths across nearly a dozen countries. Reports indicate that over 1,600 civilians were killed in Iran and more than 1,000 civilians lost their lives in Lebanon during the fighting.
The crisis escalated after repeated US warnings for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Washington issued several deadlines and carried out strikes on military and energy infrastructure after Tehran refused to comply immediately.
Hostilities intensified toward the end of March, when several US aircraft were damaged or destroyed during strikes and rescue operations in the region, while attacks also targeted infrastructure in Tehran and the oil-export hub of Kharg Island.
After several deadline extensions and growing international pressure, the United States ultimately agreed to the temporary ceasefire hours before the latest deadline expired, opening the door for diplomatic negotiations aimed at achieving lasting peace in the Middle East.