Agree on Ceasefire, Iran and US Both Claim Victory
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that “we have a real chance for peace” following the agreement on a conditional two-week ceasefire with Iran.
US President Donald Trump said the US would work closely with Iran and would “dig up and extract” buried nuclear materials, adding that there would be no uranium enrichment.
Nevertheless, both the US and Iran are claiming victory.
Iran said it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and that “its victory on the battlefield will also be consolidated” in upcoming negotiations in Pakistan.
In contrast, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth described it as a “US military victory” and claimed that Iran’s military has been rendered ineffective for years to come.
Meanwhile, Israel stated that it is launching the “largest attack” since the start of its ground operation in Lebanon.
Previously, Israel stated that the two-week pause “does not include Lebanon”, although the Pakistani Prime Minister said otherwise.
Western countries call for “all parties” to comply with the ceasefire including in Lebanon
A group of Western countries called for “swift and sustainable peace” in Iran, and urged “all parties” to comply with the two-week ceasefire including in Lebanon.
The statement was signed by the leaders of the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, the European Commission, and the Council of Europe.
They “welcomed” the two-week ceasefire and thanked Pakistan and the mediators for their role in “facilitating this important agreement.”
“We call on all parties to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon.”
What is the content of the statement by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth?
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the temporary two-week ceasefire provides an opportunity for “real peace and a real agreement.”
He then added that his department has done its part “for now,” but remains ready to ensure that Iran complies with every reasonable provision in the agreement.
Hegseth further called today a “great day for world peace” and claimed that Iran “begged for this ceasefire,” adding that “they can’t take it anymore”.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the temporary two-week ceasefire provides an opportunity for “real peace and a real agreement.”
He said that this is a “capital V military victory” and claimed that Iran’s military has been rendered ineffective for years to come.
Hegseth said that the US has achieved its military objectives, namely destroying Iran’s navy and air force, and claimed that the US now “controls their skies”.
Trump: US will cooperate with Iran
In the latest development, US President Donald Trump posted a statement on Truth Social.
He said that the US would work with Iran, “which we have ensured has experienced something that will be a very productive regime change!”
Trump stated that Iran will not enrich uranium, and that the US would work with Tehran to “dig up and extract all the ‘dust’ of deeply buried nuclear [by B2 bombers].”
“All of that is now, and has always been, under very tight satellite surveillance,” he added.
He also said: “Nothing has been touched since the date of the attack. We are, and will continue to, discuss tariff relief and sanctions with Iran. Many of the 15 points have already been agreed.”
Ships reported to start crossing the Strait of Hormuz
Ship movement tracking company MarineTraffic reported on Thursday (08/04) local time that there are “early signs of ship activity” in the Strait of Hormuz, after the route was previously effectively blockaded by Iran.
The organisation mentioned that two ships are believed to have crossed the strait, one owned by Greece and another registered in Liberia.
The BBC has not verified these reports.
Other ships were previously reported attacked in locations near the strait, as well as in other areas of the Gulf region.
Passage through the strait has been a point of contention in recent weeks.
While long-term plans for the route remain unclear, the announced temporary ceasefire requires Iran to reopen it.
Several countries had previously reached agreements with Iran to allow their ships to continue using the global shipping route, including Pakistan, India, and the Philippines.
Meanwhile, other ships were previously reported attacked in locations adjacent to the strait, as well as in other areas of the Gulf region.
Lebanon requests world assistance to stop Israeli attacks
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam pleaded with “all friends of Lebanon” to stop Israel’s military actions in his country.
“By all means available,” he said, following a major wave of Israeli airstrikes on the country’s territory.
Writing on X, Nawaf Salam said: “Israel continues to expand its aggression targeting densely populated residential areas, which takes the lives of unarmed civilians in various parts of Lebanon, especially in the capital Beirut.”
The appeal came after a statement from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) saying that on Wednesday (08/04) they had launched the “largest attack” across Lebanon since the start of their operations against Hezbollah.
Salam said that the IDF’s actions show “total disregard” for international law, adding:
“And all friends of Lebanon, we call