Foreign Minister Winston Peters has welcomed the announcement of a two‑week ceasefire in the Iran war as a step forward, while stressing that determined effort and strong leadership will be needed to turn this temporary pause into a lasting peace.
United States President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the country will pause its planned airstrikes on Iranian targets for 14 days, giving diplomacy a chance to move forward, particularly around tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed it had accepted a two-week ceasefire and would enter negotiations with the US in Islamabad beginning Friday.
Responding to the development, Peters said: “We welcome all efforts to bring an end to this conflict.”
“While this is encouraging news, there remains significant important work to be done in the coming days to secure a lasting ceasefire.”
Peters also highlighted New Zealand’s appreciation for the role of regional partners, expressing gratitude for the work of Pakistan, as well as Türkiye and Egypt, in pushing for a resolution to the crisis.
Peters met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington DC, where discussions focused on the “wide-ranging impacts and disruptions” affecting not only the Middle East but also regions further afield, including New Zealand and the Pacific.
“In the coming days and weeks, New Zealand will stand in support of all efforts to bring about a lasting, durable end to this conflict,” Peters said.