Jeremy Bowen: Ceasefire means temporary respite for civilians, but it might not last long

Bowen: Ceasefire means respite for civilians, but it might not last longJust nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleJeremy BowenInternational editorGetty ImagesIn a day, Donald Trump went from threatening that Iran's civilisation "will die tonight" to declaring that Iran's ten-point plan was a "workable" basis for negotiation in Pakistan.The ceasefire, first and foremost, is a respite for all those civilians across the Middle East who have been under fire since the United States and Israel went to war against Iran on 28 February.They do not include the people of Lebanon. After insisting that the ceasefire did not apply to Lebanon, Israel launched a huge and deadly wave of air strikes.The respite elsewhere might not last long. Both Iran and the US have strong reasons to end the war. But their publicly declared positions are way apart. Two weeks lie ahead to attempt to make a deal between two sides that do not trust each.The US Vice-President J.D. Vance, described the ceasefire as a "fragile truce". That is a realistic assessment.Less realistic claims are coming from both sides, as simultaneously they claim victory.The US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told journalists at the Pentagon, it was a "capital V military victory" for the United States, "historic and overwhelming"."The world's leading state sponsor of terrorism proved utterly incapable of defending itself, its people or its territory," he said.Equally bombastic claims are coming from Tehran, where the regime is also claiming an overwhelming victory.Iran's First Vice President Mohammed Reza Aref, said on social media that "the world has welcomed a new centre of power, and the era of Iran has begun".Trump's supporters say that the undeniably serious destruction inflicted on Iran by the US and Israel forced it to negotiate. The president's supporters say his statements were decisive negotiating tactics. His threats...