The United States, Israel and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire after mediation by Pakistan, a truce intended to halt weeks of escalating strikes across the Middle East and create space for negotiations. Pakistan said talks aimed at a permanent end to the war could begin in Islamabad as soon as Friday.
Despite the announcement, exchanges of fire continued. Iranian state television reported drone and missile strikes on Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates in retaliation for an earlier attack on an oil facility on Lavan island north of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said the Lavan strike at 10 a.m. sparked a fire but caused no injuries; Iran’s Oil Ministry described it as an “enemy attack.” Explosions were also reported on Sirri island. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had struck energy complexes and pipelines linked to the US and Israel overnight and had hit oil facilities in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea port of Yanbu.
Kuwait’s military said it intercepted 28 Iranian drones, some of which targeted power stations and oil infrastructure, and reported “significant material damage” to oil installations, power plants and desalination plants. The UAE said its air defenses were engaging missile and drone attacks. Reports indicated attacks continued into Wednesday morning even after Tehran and Washington declared the ceasefire.
US Vice President JD Vance, speaking in Budapest, welcomed the truce but warned it was “fragile” and said President Donald Trump was “impatient” for progress. He emphasized the need for Iran to negotiate in good faith. Pakistan, credited with mediating the pause, has been urged to host and facilitate the next round of talks.
The agreement drew broadly positive international reaction. The European Union called it a step toward de-escalation and urged continued diplomacy, saying the ceasefire should open space to stop missiles, restart shipping and pursue a lasting settlement. China welcomed the pause and signaled a desire to play a constructive role in restoring peace. Russia described the US-Iran ceasefire as “very important,” welcomed a decision to refrain from further armed escalation and noted wider effects on global energy markets. Turkey called for full implementation of the truce and pledged support for Pakistan’s mediation.
Gulf Arab states offered cautious support. Saudi Arabia expressed hope the agreement could lead to a “comprehensive and sustainable de-escalation.” Qatar welcomed the truce and stressed the importance of maritime security and freedom of navigation, while Oman urged intensified efforts to end the crisis. UAE officials framed the outcome as a defensive success and underscored their readiness to manage a complex regional landscape.
France and Spain voiced concern about parallel fighting in Lebanon. President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the ceasefire but said it should fully include Lebanon and cover pro-Iranian militias in Iraq. Spain criticized Israel’s continued offensive in southern Lebanon as “unacceptable,” calling the truce a “ray of hope” that should not be undermined by operations in a sovereign state. Israel, however, declared the ceasefire did not apply to its offensive in Lebanon, ordered evacuations in southern Lebanon and said it would continue its campaign against Hezbollah. Reuters sources reported Hezbollah had suspended attacks on northern Israel after the ceasefire announcement, but Lebanon’s army warned displaced residents not to return amid ongoing strikes.
Analysts cautioned about broader consequences. Fawaz Gerges, a Middle East specialist at the London School of Economics, described the war as “one of the greatest miscalculations by an American president,” saying US policy had weakened Washington’s negotiating credibility and strengthened Iran domestically. He characterized Iran’s 10-point peace proposal as a “wishlist” likely to contain items contentious for the United States.
The conflict’s economic and logistical fallout remains acute. Willie Walsh, head of the International Air Transport Association, warned that jet fuel supplies could take months to recover even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens, because disruptions to regional refining capacity are not quickly reversible. He predicted Gulf transport hubs could recover relatively quickly but said airlines would likely raise prices.
Ukraine offered expertise in countering Iranian-made drones, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying Ukrainian military advisers would continue to assist Middle Eastern partners.
The ceasefire and planned talks were welcomed by many as a chance to reduce immediate threats to shipping, energy infrastructure and civilians, but officials stressed the arrangement’s fragility and the need for good-faith negotiations to convert the temporary pause into a lasting settlement.