Trump's Iran ceasefire in doubt as missiles rain on Israel minutes after announcement

Missiles were launched by Iran and Israel mere minutes following the declaration, which prompted alerts for citizens in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and other nations to seek shelter. A gas processing facility in Abu Dhabi was engulfed in flames this morning following incoming Iranian fire, officials confirmed.

However, Mr Trump had finally secured an agreement to step back from the apocalyptic precipice last night. Iran had presented a 10-point plan, to which Mr Trump consented, though one stipulation is a £1 million-per-ship charge for passage through the Hormuz Strait.

Nevertheless, missile strikes resumed throughout the Middle East. Iran has also maintained it will continue to control and levy charges on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz as well as enrich uranium.

A senior White House official informed CNN that Israel is included in the two-week ceasefire. Israeli forces have consented to halt their bombing campaign while negotiations proceed.

Mr Trump initially described Iran’s proposed 10-point plan as “workable” and potentially capable of helping to conclude the conflict he initiated with Israel on February 28. However, he subsequently branded the plan fraudulent without providing further details. The US President has stated that completely dismantling Iran’s nuclear programme was a central objective of the conflict.

The revelation widens the scope of Mr Trump’s Truth Social announcement, which had centred on a US suspension of strikes against Iranian infrastructure. However, the White House official’s statement to CNN makes it abundantly clear the pause extends to Israeli military operations as well.

Following the ceasefire announcement, Mr Trump returned to his social media platform to declare it is “a big day for World Peace!” His post continued: “Iran wants it to happen, they’ve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else! The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action!”

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir personally urged Mr Trump to hold back strikes that had been planned for Tuesday night. Mr Trump, 79, agreed to halt bombing for two weeks, on the condition that Iran agreed to what he termed the “COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING” of the Strait of Hormuz.

The world leader characterised the arrangement as “a double sided CEASEFIRE” and confirmed Washington had received a 10-point proposal from Tehran, which it regarded as “a workable basis on which to negotiate.”

However, the agreement does not encompass the fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed. Pro-government demonstrators filling the streets of Iran’s capital chanted: “Death to America, death to Israel, death to compromisers!” following the ceasefire announcement.