KABUL (Pajhwok): Japan, Iraq, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea and the United Nations have welcomed a two-week truce between Iran and the United States, urging both sides to honour their commitments under international principles, a media report said on Wednesday.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the ceasefire and called on all parties to work towards long-term peace in the Middle East, France-Presse reported.
He urged all parties to the current conflict to comply with their obligations under international law and adhere to the terms of the ceasefire in order to pave the way for lasting and comprehensive peace in the region.
Meanwhile, the Japanese government also welcomed the truce.
“The most important thing is that concrete steps are taken to de-escalate the situation, including ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz,” government spokesman Minoru Kihara said.
He added: “We hope a final agreement will be reached through diplomacy at an early date.”
Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also welcomed the ceasefire but called for “serious and sustained dialogue” between the US and Iran.
New Zealand welcomed the ceasefire but warned that “significant work” remained to secure peace.
“While this is encouraging news, significant work remains in the coming days to secure a lasting ceasefire,” a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Winston Peters said.
“In the coming days and weeks, New Zealand will support all efforts to bring about a lasting and durable end to this conflict,” he added.
Australia cautioned that the longer the war continued, the greater its impact on the global economy and the higher the human cost.
“Australia wants to see the ceasefire upheld and the conflict resolved,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office said in a statement.
“We continue to call on all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and protect civilians,” it added.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry also welcomed the ceasefire and expressed hope it would ensure safe passage for all vessels, including its own, through the Strait of Hormuz.
The ministry said it hoped negotiations between the two sides would conclude successfully and that peace and stability in the Middle East would be restored as soon as possible.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said on Tuesday night that talks with the United States were due to begin on Friday (April 21) in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, based on a 10-point proposal from Tehran.
US President Donald Trump said attacks on Iran would be halted for two weeks if the Strait of Hormuz was reopened.
The council said the negotiations would begin with “complete distrust of the American side” and would initially last for two weeks, with the possibility of extension by mutual agreement.
According to reports, Iran’s 10-point proposal includes provisions such as a US commitment to non-aggression, continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of uranium enrichment, lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions, termination of UN Security Council and IAEA resolutions, compensation for Iran, withdrawal of US combat forces from the region and an end to conflicts on all fronts, including against the Islamic resistance in Lebanon.
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