Three Things To Watch As The US-Iran Cease-Fire Takes Hold

(Kian Sharifi – RFE/RL) The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week cease-fire, brokered by Pakistan, premised on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement came less than two hours before US President Donald Trump’s self-imposed deadline was set to expire at 8 pm ET on April 7. Global markets rallied. Oil prices fell. Leaders around the world expressed relief. But the cease-fire is already proving to be fragile, with Iranian strikes reported across Arab states in the Persian Gulf just hours after the pause in fighting went into effect. Meanwhile, Israel has continued its attacks in Lebanon on Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy that has been designated a terror organization by Washington. Talks in Islamabad to secure a permanent peace deal will begin on April 10. Both sides have said the cease-fire is temporary and does not constitute an end to the war. – Three Things To Watch As The US-Iran Cease-Fire Takes Hold