Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Wednesday, including US President Donald Trump announcing a two-week suspension of military action, Iran confirming talks with US to begin in Pakistan's capital on Friday, and office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying ceasefire "does not include Lebanon."
US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday a two-week suspension of military action against Iran following discussions with Pakistani leaders.
Trump said that after conversations with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, he agreed to halt planned strikes, contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz “completely, immediately, and safely.”
"I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.
"This will be a double sided ceasefire," he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Iran's Supreme National Security Council announced in the early hours of Wednesday that negotiations with US representatives will begin in Islamabad on Friday and will be concluded, lasting up to 15 days under Pakistan's mediation, confirming a limited pause in hostilities between the two sides.
In a statement, the council said Iran agreed to enter talks for a two-week period following what it described as achieving its objectives on the battlefield.
It stressed that the move does not mean the war has ended, adding that any final cessation of hostilities depends on securing Iran’s conditions and finalizing details of what it described as a “victory.”
The statement said Iran has put forward a 10-point proposal that includes guarantees against future attacks, lifting all primary and secondary sanctions, compensation for damages, withdrawal of US forces from the region, and arrangements related to the Strait of Hormuz.
It added that safe passage through the strategic waterway would be ensured during the two weeks through coordination with Iran’s armed forces, under a framework that maintains Iran’s control over transit.
The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel supports US President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend military strikes against Iran for two weeks, the ceasefire "does not include Lebanon."
"Israel also supports the US effort to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat to America, Israel, Iran's Arab neighbors and the world," it added.
Israel has carried out airstrikes and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon since a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2, despite a ceasefire that took effect in November 2024.
The number of people killed in Israeli strikes since March 2 rose to 1,497, with 4,639 others injured, according to the Health Ministry.
Hezbollah has fired barrages of rockets into Israel since early March, saying the attacks are in response to continued Israeli strikes on Lebanon as well as the killing of Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on Feb. 28.
The US will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump said Wednesday, following a newly agreed two-week ceasefire with Iran.
"There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process," he said on his Truth Social platform.
"We’ll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just 'hangin’ around' in order to make sure that everything goes well," he added.
Madagascar on Tuesday declared a nationwide state of energy emergency as the ongoing Middle East conflict caused major disruptions in energy supply.
The island nation reported nationwide fuel shortages, forcing its Cabinet to pursue urgent measures to restore energy supply and ensure continuity of public services.
"The declaration of a state of energy emergency allows authorities to take exceptional and urgent measures to restore energy supply and ensure continuity of public services. The decision was taken following the observation that the country is facing a deep crisis due to disruptions in energy supply across the island linked to the conflict in the Middle East," a Cabinet statement said.
Several African governments have implemented measures such as tax suspension on fuel imports in response to surging global oil prices spurred by the US-Israel war against Iran.
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