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"White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked about Iranian reports that the Strait of Hormuz was closed - and said that Donald Trump expected it to be opened 'immediately' - speaking in DC on Wednesday. "Iranian state media is saying that Iran has now closed off the Strait of Hormuz today in response to Israeli attacks on Lebanon. What’s the White House response to that?" a reporter put to her. "That is completely unacceptable. And again, this is a case of what they’re saying publicly is different privately. We have seen an uptick of traffic in the strait today, and I will reiterate the President’s expectation and demand that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened immediately, quickly and safely. That is his expectation. It has been relayed to him privately that that is what’s taking place, and these reports publicly are false," she replied. The US and Iran agreed a conditional two-week ceasefire on Tuesday night, shortly before Donald Trump's own deadline for a deal and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Both sides described it as a 'victory'. Trump, who earlier warned that a "whole civilisation will die" if agreement wasn't reached, claimed 'total and complete victory' and said the new deal would also depend on the "complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz". Iran's Supreme National Security Council was quoted by Iranian media as saying: "We congratulate all the people of Iran on this victory and emphasise that until the details of this victory are finalised, there is still a need for perseverance and prudence on the part of the authorities and for maintaining the unity and solidarity of the Iranian people." Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would allow 'safe passage' through the Strait during the ceasefire "via co-ordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations" - while Iran sent also the US side a 10-point plan via Pakistan. Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif offered to host peace talks in Islamabad later this week."
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