WASHINGTON, April 8 -- The United States and Iran agreed toa two-week ceasefirebarely an hour before President Donald Trump's Wednesday (8) deadlineto obliterate the country was set to expire, triggering global relief alongside apprehension.

Tehran has agreed to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the world's oil, gas and fertilizer passes, easing concerns for the battered global economy.

While the announcement was broadly welcomed internationally, much work remained to prevent a return to fighting, with UN chief Antonio Guterres calling for all parties to "pave the way towards a lasting and comprehensive peace".

Underlining the precarity of the deal, there were explosions on Wednesday morning in Bahrain's Ma...