Iran ceasefire deal a partial win for Trump - but at a high cost

Donald Trump posted on his social media website at 18:32 Washington time that the US and Iran were "very far along" with a "definitive" peace agreement and that he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire to allow negotiations to proceed. This was close to Trump's looming 20:00 EDT (00:00 GMT on Wednesday) deadline to reach a deal or the US would launch massive strikes against Iranian energy and transportation infrastructure. The deal is contingent on Iran also suspending hostilities and fully opening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping traffic.

Democrats condemned Trump's words on Tuesday, with some calling for his removal. Congressman Joaquin Castro wrote on X, "It is clear that the president has continued to decline and is not fit to lead." Chuck Schumer said any Republican who did not join in voting to end the Iran war "owns every consequence of whatever the hell this is". Republican congressman Austin Scott criticised Trump's threats about a civilisation dying, saying, "The president's comments are counter-productive, and I do not agree with them." Senator Ron Johnson said it would be a "huge mistake" if Trump followed through with his bombing campaign. Congressman Nathaniel Moran wrote on social media that he did not support "the destruction of a 'whole civilisation'". Senator Lisa Murkowski wrote that the president's threat "cannot be excused away as an attempt to gain leverage in negotiations with Iran".

The US and Iran will now engage in negotiations over the next two weeks.