ISLAMABAD: United States President Donald J. Trump on Wednesday announced to suspend the “bombing and attacks” on Iran for two weeks , describing it as a double-sided ceasefire, just a couple of hours after a request from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

“Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein 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, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,” Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social.

Earlier on his X timeline, Prime Minister Shehbaz had requested President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks to allow diplomacy to run its course, and also Iran to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period as a goodwill gesture.

The diplomatic efforts had intensified as Trump had set an 8pm ET deadline for April 8 and warned of bombing on Iranian infrastructure no agreement reached. Just hours before the deadline, Trump had renewed his threat to Iran, saying “a whole civilisation will die tonight.”

“This will be a double sided ceasefire,” President Trump stated.

He said that the US had already met and exceeded all military objectives and was very far along with a definitive agreement concerning long-term peace with Iran and peace in the Middle East.

“We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate. Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the agreement to be finalized and consummated,” the US President said.

Trump described the development as an honour on behalf of the United States of America and the countries of the Middle East, saying the long-term problem was close to resolution.