Iran War Day 40: US and Tehran Both Claim Victory as Two-Week Ceasefire Begins

On the 40th day of the war, a tentative pause in hostilities has been announced, as US President Donald Trump said Washington would suspend its attacks after Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire. The arrangement is tied to Tehran’s commitment to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. Iran’s foreign minister confirmed that safe passage would be ensured during this period through coordination with the country’s armed forces. Negotiations between the two sides are expected to begin on Friday in Islamabad, following a request by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for both Washington and Tehran to move toward de-escalation.

Despite the announcement, fighting across the wider Gulf region has not entirely subsided. Bahrain reported that its civil defence teams had extinguished a fire at a facility struck in an Iranian attack. In Qatar, four people were injured overnight by debris from intercepted projectiles, according to the defence ministry. Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates also came under attack, while Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted five ballistic missiles. In Abu Dhabi, authorities responded to a fire at the Habshan gas field, although the cause was not officially confirmed. Air raid alarms were also triggered in the UAE shortly beforehand, underlining continued volatility despite diplomatic efforts.

Oman welcomed the ceasefire announcement, describing it as a step toward ending the conflict. In a statement, the country’s foreign ministry stressed “the importance of intensifying efforts now to find solutions that can end the crisis from its roots” and called for a permanent halt to hostilities. The coming two weeks are expected to be decisive, with Trump indicating that the outcome will depend on how negotiations unfold during this period. It remains unclear whether Israel will participate in the Islamabad talks, although Pakistan is set to act as mediator, with support from China.

Trump portrayed the agreement as a decisive success for the United States. Speaking to AFP, he described it as a “total and complete victory,” adding that Iran’s uranium stockpiles would be “perfectly taken care of” under the deal. He also credited Beijing for helping bring Tehran to the negotiating table. In a separate post, Trump said the US would assist in managing shipping congestion in the Strait of Hormuz, promising to “hang around” to ensure stability, while suggesting the arrangement could usher in a “Golden Age of the Middle East.”

Reactions within Iran have mirrored this tone of victory. Officials have framed the ceasefire as proof of the country’s “resilience, patience and courage,” arguing that Tehran secured key concessions. They point to the acceptance of a 10-point plan as the basis for negotiations, alongside Trump’s acknowledgment that most contentious issues had been addressed. Iranian leaders have emphasized that early expectations in Washington and Tel Aviv of a rapid collapse of the system did not materialize, and instead the country demonstrated its capacity to sustain the conflict.

The proposed framework for talks includes Iran’s pledge not to develop nuclear weapons, alongside demands for a full cessation of attacks against its territory and allied groups. It also envisions a potential withdrawal of US forces from the region, restrictions on attacks launched from regional bases, and the lifting of all sanctions, including those imposed by the United Nations. Other elements include regulated passage through the Strait of Hormuz under a “Safe Passage Protocol,” compensation for war damage through an international fund, recognition of Iran’s right to enrich nuclear material, and the eventual ratification of agreements through a UN resolution.

There is, however, confusion over the scope of the ceasefire. Pakistan initially suggested that the deal extended to allied theatres, including Lebanon. Israel quickly rejected that interpretation, stating that the pause “does not include Lebanon,” and continued its military operations there. Israeli forces carried out air strikes in the Bekaa Valley town of Machgharah, shelled Khiam, and struck multiple مواقع in Tyre, including an area near a hospital shortly after Trump’s announcement.

Elsewhere, armed groups aligned with Iran signaled temporary compliance. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq said it would observe the two-week ceasefire. At the same time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who had been abducted in Iraq, calling the development “pleasing” and noting she would leave the country immediately.

International reaction has been broadly supportive. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese were among those welcoming the truce. Still, criticism persists within the United States, where Democratic lawmakers renewed calls for Trump’s impeachment, accusing him of “genocidal” and “unhinged” rhetoric despite the ceasefire.

The announcement also coincides with a significant moment inside Iran, where supporters are marking the 40th day since the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli strike on February 28. The commemoration, traditionally important in Iranian religious practice, is taking place alongside celebrations in Tehran following news of the ceasefire. Khamenei has since been succeeded by his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the country navigates both mourning and a fragile diplomatic opening.