Ottawa/IBNS-CMEDIA: Prime Minister Mark Carney and European leaders on Tuesday welcomed a newly announced two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, urging all sides to move quickly toward a lasting diplomatic settlement.
In a joint statement with leaders from Europe, including Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer, Carney said the truce marked an important step but warned that sustained diplomacy would be critical to ending the conflict.
“We welcome the two-week ceasefire … The goal must now be to negotiate a swift and lasting end to the war,” the leaders said, adding that “this can only be achieved through diplomatic means.”
The statement emphasized the need to protect civilians in Iran, stabilize the region and prevent wider economic fallout, including a potential global energy crisis.
Still, Carney and his counterparts framed the ceasefire as a critical opportunity to shift from military escalation to diplomacy.
“We strongly encourage quick progress towards a substantive negotiated settlement,” the statement said.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, stepping back from earlier threats of striking the country’s power plants and bridges.
Strait of Hormuz reopening key condition
He said Iran has agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the decision followed discussions with Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir.
“Subject to Iran agreeing to the complete, immediate and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz, I have agreed to suspend bombing and attacks on Iran for two weeks,” Trump wrote, calling it a “double-sided ceasefire”.
US claims military objectives achieved
Trump said the United States had “met and exceeded” its military objectives and was close to a long-term peace agreement with Iran.
“We have received a 10-point proposal from Iran, which we believe is a workable basis for negotiations. A two-week pause will allow the agreement to be finalised,” he said.
Pakistan, Iran confirm ceasefire move
Reacting to the development, Sharif said on X that Iran and the United States, along with their allies, had agreed to an immediate ceasefire across multiple theatres, including Lebanon.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed Tehran’s acceptance, saying Iran would halt defensive operations if attacks ceased. He added that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be ensured for two weeks.
White House calls it ‘victory’
The White House described the move as a “victory”, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying US forces had exceeded their objectives in just 38 days.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council failed to pass a resolution aimed at securing navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, after vetoes from China and Russia. Eleven countries backed the draft, while Colombia and Pakistan abstained.
(Reporting by Suman Das)
