The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire after weeks of illegal US-Israeli aggression against Iran, with both sides suspending attacks and reopening the Strait of Hormuz under a temporary arrangement linked to planned negotiations in Pakistan.
US President Donald Trump said he would halt strikes on Iran for 14 days following talks mediated by Pakistan, while Tehran confirmed it would allow safe passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz under military coordination. The agreement came shortly before a deadline set by Washington for further escalation.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said it accepted the pause on condition that attacks stop, stressing that the move does not mark the end of the war. Iranian officials described the outcome as a success and said negotiations would begin in Islamabad on 10 April based on a 10-point proposal covering sanctions, nuclear policy, and regional security.
In the hours before the ceasefire, Trump threatened large-scale military action against Iran, stating that failure to reach an agreement would lead to strikes on key infrastructure. He wrote that “a whole civilisation will die tonight”, a statement that drew condemnation from political figures and foreign ministers.
Trump described the agreement as a decisive outcome. “Total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it,” he told AFP. Iranian leaders presented a different account, stating that their demands formed the basis of the talks.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who led mediation efforts, said the ceasefire applied across the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected that interpretation and said operations in Lebanon would continue. His office stated that the truce “does not include Lebanon”.
Israeli forces carried out strikes in southern Lebanon after the announcement and issued evacuation warnings in several areas. Lebanese authorities reported more than 1,500 deaths since early March and said over 1.2 million people have been displaced during the fighting.
The ceasefire followed nearly six weeks of conflict that disrupted energy supplies and trade routes. Iran had restricted access to the Strait of Hormuz as retaliation, a passage for about one fifth of global oil and gas shipments. Under the agreement, vessels will transit the route for two weeks, with Iran and Oman permitted to charge fees.
Shipping firms responded with caution. Maersk said it would not resume normal operations and would base decisions on risk assessments and security conditions.
Markets reacted to the announcement. Oil prices fell by about 15 percent, with Brent crude trading near $92 per barrel, according to Reuters. Stock markets in Asia rose sharply following the news.
Despite the pause, tensions remained across the region. Missile alerts and interceptions were reported in Gulf states hours before the agreement took effect. Iraq reopened its airspace after authorities said conditions had stabilised.
World leaders welcomed the development. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the ceasefire created “a much-needed chance to tone down threats”. The United Nations called for full compliance to support a lasting settlement.
India, China, Germany, and Japan issued statements backing the move and urging further diplomacy. The UK government said Prime Minister Keir Starmer would discuss efforts to uphold the ceasefire during meetings with Gulf leaders.
In Tehran, residents gathered in the streets following the announcement, while officials said the country would continue to prepare for further conflict if talks fail.
Negotiations in Islamabad will focus on Iran’s proposals, including limits on nuclear activity, the lifting of sanctions, and the withdrawal of US forces from the region. The plan also outlines controlled transit through the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for damage caused during the war.
In reality, the cessation of hostilities based on the 10-point conditions by Iran is a great victory for the country, which has stood fast and defended its sovereignty against the combined surprise attack by the world’s biggest army and its regional ally, Israel. Iran has suffered destruction to industrial, military, and civilian infrastructure, but has also dealt heavy blows to US bases and interests in the region and to Israel, which has strictly censored any distribution of images to conceal the extent of damages to its cities and critical infrastructure.
Iran’s reported 10-point plan is essentially a demand for a permanent end to hostilities rather than a temporary ceasefire, with terms that include stopping attacks on Iran, ending Israeli strikes on Iran-linked groups in the region, lifting sanctions, recognizing Iran’s security concerns, and protecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Reports also say it includes a maritime-security arrangement for the strait, a transit-fee mechanism for ships, and the use of that revenue for reconstruction, alongside broader steps to reduce regional conflict and move toward a longer-term settlement.
The conflict has also triggered shifts in financial strategy. Iran has expanded the use of China’s yuan in oil transactions passing through the strait, challenging the dominance of the US dollar in global energy markets. About 80 percent of oil trade remains priced in dollars, according to JPMorgan estimates, though analysts say alternative systems are gaining ground.
HT