Prime minister Keir Starmer will travel to the Middle East on Wednesday in order to hold talks with Gulf partners on reopening the Strait of Hormuz permanently after a temporary US-Iran ceasefire agreement.

“I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world,” Starmer said in a statement.

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German foreign minister Johann Wadephul this morning ⁠welcomed the two-week ceasefire the US and ⁠Iran ​agreed on ⁠Tuesday.”

I welcome the ⁠decision by ​the ⁠warring parties ‌to agree to a ceasefire ‌in the Iran ‌war,” the minister ⁠wrote on X.

“This must be the crucial first step towards lasting peace, for ‌the ​consequences of ‌the ⁠war continuing ⁠would be incalculable,” he ‌said.

Iran has claimed strategic victory over the US and Israel and pushed back against Donald Trump on his ceasefire remarks.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council last night said it had accepted a two-week ceasefire in the war with the US and Israel.

“The enemy has suffered an undeniable, historic and crushing defeat in its cowardly, illegal and criminal war against the Iranian nation,” it said in a statement.

It said Iran achieved a “great victory and forced the criminal America to accept its 10-point plan”.

Trump earlier today claimed “total and ‌complete victory” in his war against Iran.

Bahrain’s civil defence workers have extinguished a fire at a building following a “sinful Iranian aggression”, the home ministry said.

It added that there have been no injuries.

Bahrain sounded its missile alert sirens this morning, hours after the US and Iran said they reached a two-week ceasefire in the war for negotiations.

It wasn’t clear from the ceasefire announcement when it would begin, even though Pakistan’s prime minister announced it was “effective immediately”.

Governments across Asia are welcoming the announcement of a ceasefire deal between the US and Iran.

Many Asian countries are reliant on oil and gas imports via the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has agreed to open up for shipping as part of the deal to halt US and Israeli airstrikes.

Malaysia’s prime minister Anwar Ibrahim said the two-week ceasefire “augurs well for the restoration of peace and stability, not only to the region but also the rest of the world.”

Indonesia also welcomed the latest development as an effort to keep the door open for diplomacy in order to promote de-escalation.

Yvonne Mewengkang, spokesperson for Indonesia’s foreign affairs, said: “The Indonesian government will always support any constructive diplomatic efforts, including those that have the potential to lead to a more permanent resolution, with the protection of civilians as our primary focus.”

South Korea’s foreign ministry praised mediation efforts by countries including Pakistan and called for a swift restoration of peace and stability in the Middle East.

It said it expects the “prompt and safe” resumption of free passage through the Strait of Hormuz for all vessels, including South Korean ships.

Japan’s chief cabinet secretary said his nation “welcomes the announcement as a positive development. We hope they reach an agreement.”

Bahrain sounded its missile alert sirens this morning, hours after the US and Iran said they reached a two-week ceasefire in the war for negotiations.

It wasn’t immediately clear from the ceasefire announcement when it would begin.

Iran has continued to fire missiles at Gulf Arab states and Israel since the ceasefire announcements, according to reports.

The King Fahd Causeway, a key bridge linking Saudi Arabia and the island kingdom of Bahrain, reopened this morning after being shut for hours over possible incoming fire from Iran.

The King Fahd Causeway Authority said in its announcement on X that vehicle traffic has resumed.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres calls on all parties “to abide by the terms of the ceasefire in order to pave the way towards a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region,” his spokesperson said.

Guterres also calls on the parties to comply with their obligations under international law, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

International law requires the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.

“The secretary-general underscores that an end to hostilities is urgently needed to protect civilian lives and alleviate human suffering,” Dujarric said.

Jean Arnault, the secretary-general’s personal envoy, is in the region “to support efforts toward lasting peace,” the spokesperson added.

Lebanon’s health ministry said at least eight people were killed and another 22 people were wounded in an Israeli airstrike on Sidon in southern Lebanon.

The strike came without warning, and the Israeli military did not immediately specify who it was targeting.

At least 1,530 people have been killed in the latest war between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group, according to reports.