India, April 8 -- In a dramatic shift from brinkmanship to tactical restraint, US President Donald Trump announced a two-week pause on military strikes against Iran, signalling a temporary de-escalation in a conflict that has steadily intensified since late February. The decision comes just hours after stark warnings of catastrophic consequences, underscoring a pattern of high-pressure rhetoric followed by calibrated pullbacks.

At the centre of the development is Iran's reported agreement to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime corridor through which nearly a fifth of the world's oil supply passes. The move is widely seen as a critical confidence-building measure aimed at stabilising global energy markets an...