US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that President Donald Trump had the power to paralyze the entire Iranian economy in minutes, “ but he chose mercy“, writes Sky News, quoted on Friday Focus.
"Iran accepted the ceasefire agreement “under immense pressure“, because “it was beyond its means and beyond its time“, Hegseth explained.
Trump gave Iran a 1 a.m. deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face destruction, warning that “an entire civilization will die“ if Tehran fails to deal.
Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran less than two hours before his ultimatum to "destroy an entire civilization" expired. The ceasefire will be implemented on the condition that Iran opens the Strait of Hormuz to all ships.
Iran sent 10 points of demands under which it would agree to stop the war. They were a response to the US ultimatum of 15 demands addressed to Tehran.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Kaine, said during a briefing today that US forces remain ready, "if ordered or called upon to resume combat operations," writes Sky News.
"Let's be clear. The ceasefire is a pause, and the joint forces remain ready if ordered or called upon to resume combat operations with the same speed and precision that we have demonstrated over the past 38 days. And we hope that is not the case,” he said.
On the night of April 8, President Trump said he agreed to halt bombing of Iran for two weeks on the condition that the Strait of Hormuz be opened immediately. He stressed that the agreement provides for a bilateral ceasefire.