White House says ceasefire creates opening for long-term peace

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the ceasefire marked a victory for the United States, crediting President Donald Trump and the military for creating conditions for diplomacy.

She said the US had “achieved and exceeded” its core objectives within 38 days and that “the success of our military created maximum leverage,” opening the door to “a diplomatic solution and long-term peace.”

Leavitt also said Trump had secured the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Her comments came after Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said it agreed to the two-week ceasefire because “almost all the goals of the war have been achieved” and that talks in Islamabad would help “consolidate” its “victory on the battlefield” through negotiations.