Roundup: Iran-US ceasefire hailed worldwide

Iran and the United States have agreed to a two-week ceasefire as announced by US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, a move that has been welcomed worldwide.

The truce was announced less than two hours before a deadline set by Trump, and the two sides will now hold negotiations in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan.

Trump said Tuesday that he has agreed to "suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks."

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has promised safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week ceasefire under "coordination" with Iranian armed forces, saying that Iran will cease "defensive operations" if attacks against it stop.

The following remarks marked positive reactions worldwide.

Support from UN secretary-general:

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement Tuesday: "The Secretary-General underscores that an end to hostilities is urgently needed to protect civilian lives and alleviate human suffering."

"He calls on all the parties to the current conflict in the Middle East to comply with their obligations under international law and to abide by the terms of the ceasefire in order to pave the way toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region."

"He expresses sincere appreciation for the efforts of Pakistan and other countries involved in facilitating the ceasefire."

Support from European Union (EU):

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in an X post on Wednesday:

"The US-Iran agreement on a ceasefire is a step back from the brink after weeks of escalation. It creates a much-needed chance to tone down threats, stop missiles, restart shipping, and create space for diplomacy towards a lasting agreement."

Meanwhile, she noted the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened to passage, stressing the importance of safeguarding a key global shipping lane as efforts continue to ease tensions.

Support from Iraq:

An Iraqi Foreign Ministry statement released Wednesday noted that the ceasefire agreement would contribute to reducing tensions, enhancing the prospects for de-escalation, and consolidating security and stability in the region.

Meanwhile, it called for building upon this positive step by launching serious and sustainable dialogue channels that address the root causes of the disputes and strengthen mutual trust.

Support from Egypt:

An Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement issued Wednesday said: "The move is positive towards de-escalation and the containment of regional tensions," and called for full adherence to the ceasefire and respect for freedom of international navigation.

Also on Wednesday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty hailed the move, in a phone conversation with US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, as an important step "for giving diplomacy a chance and working towards launching a serious negotiation process between Washington and Tehran."

Support from South Korea:

South Korea's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday the ceasefire agreement created momentum for the resumption of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, while expressing hope that peace and stability in the Middle East would be restored at an early date.

Support from Tajikistan:

Tajikistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that it hopes the upcoming talks will lead to a long-term and comprehensive settlement, while warning that the continuation of conflict would further complicate the already fragile situation in the Middle East and cause enormous losses to all countries in the region.