TORONTO – A two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran is holding tenuously, with reports of ongoing missile fire following its announcement, according to a CBC News broadcast Wednesday evening.

The ceasefire, brokered through Pakistani intermediaries, came approximately 90 minutes before a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump demanding Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump stated the ceasefire would allow time to reach a deal to end the conflict.

However, political analyst Janice Stein, appearing on CBC News, described the ceasefire as “very fragile,” noting a “zero trust” dynamic between the U.S. and Iran. She stated that Iran continued to fire missiles at Israel after the ceasefire was announced, with Israel responding in kind.

Stein asserted that the situation represents a “huge strategic defeat” for the United States, as Iran is now “functionally in control” of the Strait of Hormuz. Prior to the recent escalation, the U.S. was a primary defender of freedom of navigation in the strait, a position now compromised. She added that none of Israel’s objectives were achieved through the ceasefire, including agreements on uranium enrichment, missile production, or Iran’s support for proxy groups.

According to Stein, Iran’s foreign minister indicated that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would require coordination with Iranian armed forces, effectively acknowledging Iranian military control. She highlighted significant sticking points in potential negotiations, including the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, potential reparations from Iran, and Iran’s insistence on its right to uranium enrichment.

Stein cautioned that the agreement is tenuous, noting discrepancies between statements from Iran’s foreign minister and its National Security Council. She suggested the ceasefire primarily buys time for both sides to de-escalate from a potentially catastrophic situation.