Donald Trump didn’t hold back on Tuesday, declaring a “total and complete victory” for the United States following the brokering of a two-week ceasefire with Iran. In a phone conversation with AFP the President expressed supreme confidence in the truce, dismissing any ambiguity surrounding the terms of the agreement or the fact that Tehran is also framing the pause in hostilities as a win for their own side.
The deal was struck in a high-stakes race against the clock, finalized barely an hour before a deadline Trump had set to launch a devastating offensive against the Islamic Republic. When asked directly if he was claiming 100 percent success with this ceasefire, Trump was emphatic, telling AFP that there is no question about the outcome.
While the world watches for clarity on several critical issues—specifically the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to vital oil traffic—Trump insisted that a robust framework is already in place. He noted that the transition involves a 15-point transaction, with the majority of those points already agreed upon. This follows an earlier statement on his Truth Social platform where he described a 10-point proposal from Iran as “workable.”
One of the most pressing concerns remains the fate of Iran’s enriched uranium. Trump had previously stated that a primary goal of military action was to ensure Tehran could never achieve nuclear capability. Though he avoided specific details on the logistics, he assured AFP that the nuclear material would be fully addressed in any long-term peace settlement, stating he wouldn’t have agreed to the truce otherwise.
The path to this ceasefire was paved by over a month of intense strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces, alongside diplomatic mediation from Pakistan. Interestingly, Trump credited China with helping pull Tehran to the negotiating table. He acknowledged Beijing’s influence, noting that as a primary buyer of Iranian oil and a key ally to the nation, their involvement was a significant factor in the shift toward diplomacy.
This diplomatic breakthrough comes just as the President prepares for a high-profile summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in mid-May. The trip, originally slated for April, was pushed back so Trump could remain in Washington to direct the campaign against Iran. As the two-week clock begins, Trump remains coy about whether he will return to his previous threats of targeting Iranian infrastructure if the deal falters, simply telling AFP that the world will have to wait and see.
