A world weary of Donald Trump’s apocalyptic rhetoric breathed a sigh of relief yesterday as the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, raising cautious hopes of a path toward lasting peace.
The announcement fell in the middle of the night in Europe and the Middle East, and many US allies were slow to make public statements about it. But the dramatic pause sparked some governments to issue immediate public praise.
However, as time progressed, welcoming messages poured in from all around the world.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on all parties to abide by the terms of the ceasefire “in order to pave the way toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region”, according to his spokesperson.
Guterres underscored “that an end to hostilities is urgently needed to protect civilian lives and alleviate human suffering”, and thanked Pakistan and other nations involved in facilitating the truce.
Dhaka yesterday welcomed the ceasefire, terming it an encouraging development towards de-escalation in the region.
“Bangladesh hopes that all parties involved will respect the ceasefire and utilise this opportunity constructively to work towards a durable and sustainable resolution and restore lasting peace and stability across the region,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement yesterday.
“Bangladesh reiterates that all disputes can and should be resolved peacefully through dialogue and diplomacy.”
Former chief adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus also hailed the truce, urging world leaders to take “firm and effective measures to uphold international law”.
“This is not merely a regional crisis; it is a moral challenge for all humankind… Now, more than ever, the world must come together… This is not merely about geopolitics or power; it is about the future of human civilisation. We must choose peace over war, dialogue over attacks, and unity over division,” he said in a statement.
China welcomed the ceasefire, underlining its role in encouraging a deal between the US and Iran to pause hostilities.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a news conference that Foreign Minister Wang Yi had held 26 calls with counterparts from warring countries while Beijing’s Middle East envoy had “shuttled across” the war-torn region.
Beijing would “continue to make efforts to ease the situation and achieve a complete end to the war”.
US President Donald Trump, who announced the truce, said he believed China helped push Iran into negotiating the ceasefire.
Russia said the approach of a “one-track, aggressive, unprovoked attack” against Iran suffered a “crushing defeat”.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and the deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council said the ceasefire showed that common sense has prevailed, but that “there’ll be no cheap oil” going forward.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on X that he supports Trump’s decision to suspend strikes on Iran, and the “US effort to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat to America, Israel, Iran’s Arab neighbours and the world”.
Netanyahu said, however, that the ceasefire does “not include Lebanon“, where Israeli forces have launched a ground invasion and are fighting with the Iran-aligned Hezbollah.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed the truce, adding that Beirut “continued efforts to ensure that the regional peace includes Lebanon in a stable and lasting manner.”
Pakistan, which led efforts to reach the ceasefire, was optimistic that this was the turning point needed in the war.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed the “much-needed de-escalation.”
Urging parties to uphold truce terms to “achieve sustainable peace in the region”, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the deal “a step back from the brink after weeks of escalation”.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said, “The Spanish government will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they turn up with a bucket.”
Sanchez said ceasefires were always welcome news, but added that “momentary relief must not make us forget the chaos, the destruction and the lives lost” while calling for “diplomacy, international law and PEACE” to prevail.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that it welcomed the ceasefire and expected that unimpeded freedom of navigation and global flow of commerce would prevail through the Strait of Hormuz.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the truce “will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world” as he headed to the region.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the ceasefire “a very good thing” and that Paris hoped it “will be fully respected throughout the region” and that it “fully includes Lebanon.”
Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged a “durable end to the war in the next days,” adding “this can only be achieved by diplomacy.”
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told reporters that Tokyo sees the development as a “positive move” and it awaits a “final agreement”.
Meanwhile, the Saudi foreign ministry said it hoped the truce “will represent an opportunity to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable de-escalation” and enhance the security of the region.
Qatar’s foreign ministry said the truce was “an initial step toward de-escalation” and urged Iran “to immediately cease all hostile acts and practices that undermine regional stability.”
United Arab Emirates presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said in a post on X that “The UAE emerged victorious from a war we sincerely sought to avoid.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong issued a joint statement welcoming the news and expressing their hopes that the deal will lead to a long-lasting resolution.
Ukraine welcomed the ceasefire, with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha calling for similar “decisiveness” by Washington in stopping Russia’s war on his country.
