The two-week ceasefire deal brokered by Pakistan earlier this week has averted, for now, the civilisational death that Donald Trump threatened on Iran in an outburst that was extraordinary even by his unfathomable standards.

In response to Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Trump promised unimaginable destruction in Iran, including attacks on power plants and bridges. That would almost certainly amount to war crimes, something that he expressly stated did not concern him.

The ceasefire agreement provided for a two-week period in which Iran would ensure that the Strait of Hormuz would open for maritime traffic. Negotiations would also begin in Islamabad on a deal to end the conflict in its entirety. However, the widespread relief and optimism that followed the announcement of the ceasefire has been accompanied by concerns about the very wide gaps between the two sides, the danger of the ceasefire breaking down, and fears of the consequences of such failure for the region and the global economy.

In his announcement of the ceasefire, Trump declared that a 10-point framework for negotiations that was submitted by Tehran was “workable”. The framework has not been formally made public, but has been widely leaked. So has the US position, set out in a 15-point proposal.

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The first point of disagreement, which has threatened to torpedo the deal almost from the outset, concerns the ongoing assault by Israel on Lebanon. Israeli prime minister Binyamin........

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