Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
US President Donald Trump on Friday urged countries across the Middle East to abide by the newly signed US-Iran agreement, saying in a Truth Social post that he expected a “ceasefire on all fronts” as the region entered a crucial 60-day period aimed at transforming the accord into a broader peace settlement.
“Everybody in the Middle East should honour the agreement,” Trump wrote, adding that he expected hostilities to cease across the region, including in areas affected by the conflict between Israel and Iran-backed groups. The social media post underscored Washington’s effort to preserve a fragile regional truce, as fighting involving Israel and Hezbollah has continued to test one of the most contentious provisions of the US-Iran accord.
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“The United States is committed to PEACE, and we encourage everyone in the Middle East Region to maintain their commitment to allowing our negotiations to beautifully unfold. The Markets are loving what is happening with Oil Prices way down, and Stocks way up. We expect a complete Ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Trump’s appeal came a day after the United States and Iran agreed to a 14-point framework designed to halt escalating tensions, reopen key maritime routes and launch negotiations on a range of issues that have divided the two countries for decades. While the agreement stops short of a final settlement, it establishes a 60-day roadmap for talks on Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief, regional security and economic cooperation.
Among the most significant provisions is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial share of the world’s oil shipments pass. The agreement also outlines discussions on easing some sanctions on Iran, the possible release of frozen Iranian assets and measures aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation through the strategic waterway.
The framework further includes commitments related to Iran’s nuclear activities. Tehran has agreed to engage in negotiations over its nuclear programme and cooperate with mechanisms intended to prevent the development of nuclear weapons, while Washington has signalled its willingness to pursue phased confidence-building measures if progress is achieved.
Regional security issues also feature prominently in the accord. The MoU calls for efforts to reduce tensions across the Middle East and includes provisions linked to Lebanon, where exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah have repeatedly threatened to trigger a wider conflict. Trump underscored that point in his social media post, saying he expected a ceasefire “on all fronts” as the agreement moves into its implementation phase.
Despite the White House portraying the deal as a diplomatic breakthrough, the accord has faced criticism from some Republicans and pro-Israel commentators.
Critics argue that the framework offers Iran meaningful concessions before securing concrete and verifiable restrictions on its nuclear programme. Others have raised concerns about discussions on sanctions relief and access to frozen funds, warning that Tehran could receive economic benefits without making sufficient commitments in return.
The provisions relating to Israel and Lebanon have emerged as a particularly contentious issue. Some Republican lawmakers and supporters of Israel have argued that language calling for restraint in Lebanon could limit Israel’s ability to respond to threats from Hezbollah. They contend that the agreement does not provide enough assurances regarding the Iran-backed group’s future activities.
Trump has rejected such criticism, insisting that the agreement serves American interests by reducing the risk of a broader regional war and restoring stability to global energy markets. Administration officials have also pointed to the reopening of maritime routes and the easing of tensions in the Gulf as early signs that the framework is producing results.
The next two months are expected to test whether the broad principles laid out in the 14-point agreement can be translated into a comprehensive accord. Success will depend not only on negotiations between Washington and Tehran but also on whether fragile ceasefires across the region, including in Lebanon, hold long enough for diplomacy to take root.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
