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President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran about 90 minutes before a planned attack, citing discussions with Pakistani officials as part of the reason for his decision.Trump said on social media, “They requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz.”Less than 12 hours earlier, the president predicted “a whole civilization will die tonight,” as he planned to bomb all Iranian power plants and bridges.Major Questions Remain About The DealOn Tuesday night, the president said a 10-point plan proposed by Iran would serve as a “workable basis” to start negotiations, adding the two sides are “very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE.”Following the announcement, oil prices dropped significantly, though analysts have warned against excessive optimism.Iran’s Foreign Minister said in a statement, “Safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces.”This appears to be in conflict with Trump’s statement about the Strait’s opening being “complete.”Questions are also circulating about the ceasefire plan after Iran released different versions of its proposal. In the Farsi version, the proposal included “acceptance of enrichment” for its nuclear program. This detail was omitted from the English copies.The White House has not responded to Hearst Television’s requests for clarity, considering Trump’s repeatedly stated main goal of the war was to ensure Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.Despite the ceasefire announcement, strikes continued overnight in places like Israel and Bahrain.The Negotiating TeamVice President JD Vance says he, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will lead the U.S. delegation in negotiations with Iran.Vance, who’s traveling in Hungary on Wednesday, said the president gave the team their marching orders for how to approach the talks.”The president has also showed us that we still have clear military, diplomatic, and maybe most importantly, we have extraordinary economic leverage,” Vance said. “The president has told us not to use those tools. He’s told us to come to the negotiating table. But if the Iranians don’t do the exact same thing, they’re going to find out that the president of the United States is not one to mess around. He’s impatient. He’s impatient to make progress.”Congress RespondsThe majority of members of both parties in Congress are happy Trump didn’t follow through with bombing all of Iran’s power plants and bridges.However, for a growing number of Democrats, that threat is spurring calls for the president’s cabinet to remove him from office by invoking the 25th Amendment or for Congress to impeach him. That’s extremely unlikely to happen. Short of that, Democrats want to limit Trump’s power.House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats will force a vote on a War Powers Resolution next week, even though many similar bills have failed.On the Republican side, Sen. Lindsey Graham says he wants Congress to weigh in on any deal the president makes. He’s demanding free navigation of the Strait of Hormuz and for the U.S. to remove all of Iran’s highly enriched uranium. Keep watching for the latest from the Washington News Bureau:
President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran about 90 minutes before a planned attack, citing discussions with Pakistani officials as part of the reason for his decision.
Trump said on social media, “They requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz.”
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Less than 12 hours earlier, the president predicted “a whole civilization will die tonight,” as he planned to bomb all Iranian power plants and bridges.
Major Questions Remain About The Deal
On Tuesday night, the president said a 10-point plan proposed by Iran would serve as a “workable basis” to start negotiations, adding the two sides are “very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE.”
Following the announcement, oil prices dropped significantly, though analysts have warned against excessive optimism.
Iran’s Foreign Minister said in a statement, “Safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces.”
This appears to be in conflict with Trump’s statement about the Strait’s opening being “complete.”
Questions are also circulating about the ceasefire plan after Iran released different versions of its proposal. In the Farsi version, the proposal included “acceptance of enrichment” for its nuclear program. This detail was omitted from the English copies.
The White House has not responded to Hearst Television’s requests for clarity, considering Trump’s repeatedly stated main goal of the war was to ensure Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.
Despite the ceasefire announcement, strikes continued overnight in places like Israel and Bahrain.
The Negotiating Team
Vice President JD Vance says he, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will lead the U.S. delegation in negotiations with Iran.
Vance, who’s traveling in Hungary on Wednesday, said the president gave the team their marching orders for how to approach the talks.
“The president has also showed us that we still have clear military, diplomatic, and maybe most importantly, we have extraordinary economic leverage,” Vance said. “The president has told us not to use those tools. He’s told us to come to the negotiating table. But if the Iranians don’t do the exact same thing, they’re going to find out that the president of the United States is not one to mess around. He’s impatient. He’s impatient to make progress.”
Congress Responds
The majority of members of both parties in Congress are happy Trump didn’t follow through with bombing all of Iran’s power plants and bridges.
However, for a growing number of Democrats, that threat is spurring calls for the president’s cabinet to remove him from office by invoking the 25th Amendment or for Congress to impeach him. That’s extremely unlikely to happen. Short of that, Democrats want to limit Trump’s power.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats will force a vote on a War Powers Resolution next week, even though many similar bills have failed.
On the Republican side, Sen. Lindsey Graham says he wants Congress to weigh in on any deal the president makes. He’s demanding free navigation of the Strait of Hormuz and for the U.S. to remove all of Iran’s highly enriched uranium.
Keep watching for the latest from the Washington News Bureau:
