In a dramatic shift of events, President Donald J. Trump has announced a two-week suspension of a planned military strike against Iran, citing a last-minute diplomatic intervention and a workable peace proposal.
The decision follows urgent consultations with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, who requested the President hold back the “destructive force” scheduled for deployment tonight.
The suspension is strictly conditional on the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the “complete, immediate, and safe opening” of the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump characterized the move as a “double-sided ceasefire,” noting that the United States has already met its primary military objectives.
This de-escalation comes amid intense moral pressure from religious leaders. Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, had earlier urged the President to “step back from the precipice of war,” labeling previous threats to wipe out Iranian civilization as “morally unjustified.”
READ: Holy War Or Holy Peace? Archbishop Warns Trump As Global Prayer Vigil Targets Iran Tensions
Pope Leo XIV joined the chorus of concern, calling the threats “truly unacceptable” and urging a global Vigil for Peace.
Despite the prior rhetoric, the President indicated that a long-term resolution is within reach. He revealed that the U.S. has received a 10-point proposal from Iran, which the administration views as a “workable basis” for negotiation.
“Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran,” Trump stated, adding that the 14-day window is intended to allow the agreement to be “finalized and consummated.”
The President expressed optimism that this development would lead to definitive peace in the Middle East, stating it was an honor to see the long-standing conflict moving toward a resolution.
Archbishop Coakley had previously emphasized that peace must “touch and transform the heart,” a sentiment echoed by the Pope’s focus on the moral welfare of the people over military force.
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