"From the very beginning of Operation Epic Fury, President Trump estimated this would be a 4-6 week operation," Leavitt said. Countries like Pakistan, Australia, and Egypt welcomed the agreement.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday called the two-week ceasefire between the United States, Israel, and Iran a "victory for the United States that President Trump and our incredible military made happen."
"From the very beginning of Operation Epic Fury, President Trump estimated this would be a 4-6 week operation," she said and added, "Thanks to the unbelievable capabilities of our warriors, we have achieved and exceeded our core military objectives in 38 days."
She also announced that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, would hold a press conference on Wednesday morning.
"The success of our military created maximum leverage, allowing President Trump and the team to engage in tough negotiations that have now created an opening for a diplomatic solution and long-term peace," she concluded.
The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, called the agreement a "step back from the brink after weeks of escalation," and said that it "creates a much-needed chance to tone down threats, stop missiles, restart shipping, and create space for diplomacy towards a lasting agreement."
"The Strait of Hormuz must be open for passage again," Kallas added as she thanked Pakistan for its mediation. "The door to mediation must remain open, as the underlying causes of the war remain unresolved. The EU stands ready to support those efforts and is in touch with partners in the region. I will discuss this in Saudi Arabia today."
French President Emmanuel Macron also said that he welcomed the ceasefire between Iran and the United States at the start of his defense meeting with advisers and members of his cabinet, but added that the situation in Lebanon remained critical and called for Lebanon to be included in the deal.
Egypt, Pakistan, and Australia welcome ceasefire
Countries around the world welcomed the ceasefire agreement, with Pakistan, a key mediator between the American and Iranian representatives, being the first to do so.
"With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere, effective immediately," said Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later denied Sharif's claim that the ceasefire included Lebanon, saying that Israel supported the ceasefire with Iran but clarifying: "The two-week ceasefire does not include Lebanon."
Egypt also said that it welcomed the ceasefire between the US and Iran and the suspension of all military activity in the region.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that his country welcomed the ceasefire, adding that Australia had been working on a diplomatic solution to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. It also thanked Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia for the mediation efforts.
German Charncellour Frederich Merz also welcomed the ceasefire between Iran and the US, thanking Pakistan for the mediation efforts.
"The aim now is to negotiate a lasting end to the war. We are in close coordination with our partners on this matter," he added.
Malaysia and Indonesia also welcomed the ceasefire, with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim saying that "it is imperative that the ten-point plan be translated into a comprehensive peace deal, not just for Iran, but also for Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen."
He also claimed that the ceasefire should include Palestine, and that the international community must "ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to all civilian populations affected by this war."
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also welcomed the ceasefire and said, "American decisiveness works. We believe it is time for sufficient decisiveness to force Moscow to cease fire and end its war against Ukraine."
