The US, Israel and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday barely an hour before US president Donald Trump’s deadline to obliterate Iran was set to expire, with Tehran agreeing to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The ceasefire is based on a 10-point proposal from Iran which Trump said was a “workable basis on which to negotiate”.

So what is in the proposal and why was Pakistan key to the negotiations?

The proposal requires Israel to stop its bombardment of Lebanon, something it has not done with the Israeli ‌military saying ​on Wednesday it has ​carried out ⁠the largest ‌strikes ‌against Lebanon’s ​Hizbullah ⁠since ​this ​war ‌began.

So how will that impact on the negotiations which are set to begin on Friday?

And what role did China play in the ceasefire negotiations?

Beijing-based Irish Times correspondent Denis Staunton analyses the proposal and its chance of delivering lasting peace in the region.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.