Overview
- A two-week ceasefire announced late Tuesday pauses U.S. strikes and was hailed by the White House as leverage won by “Operation Epic Fury.”
- President Trump had warned that “a whole civilization will die tonight,” setting an 8 p.m. ET deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face sweeping attacks.
- U.S. forces hit two bridges, a train station, and military infrastructure on Kharg Island in the hours before the deadline, escalating pressure on Tehran.
- Iran’s UN envoy Amir-Saeid Iravani called Trump’s threats an incitement to war crimes and vowed immediate and proportionate reciprocal measures if attacked.
- Indian opposition leaders condemned Trump’s language and highlighted real-world costs of the crisis for Indians, citing higher oil pressures and commercial LPG shortages.