Trump Announces Two-Week Ceasefire with Iran Conditional on Opening Strait of Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, hours after threatening to destroy Iranian infrastructure if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump posted the announcement on his Truth Social platform less than two hours before the expiration of his own ultimatum, citing a proposal brought to him by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir. The ceasefire is conditional on Iran's "total, immediate, and safe opening" of the strait, which Tehran had been blocking through mining and attacks on tankers since the war began. Trump wrote that Washington had received a 10-point proposal from Iran, which he described as a "practical basis for negotiations," adding that "almost all past issues of contention have been agreed upon." He declared the truce "mutual" and said the two-week window would allow for the "finalization and conclusion" of a broader agreement.

„Based on talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and General Asim Munir, in which they approached me with a request to halt the sending of devastating forces to Iran tonight, provided that the Islamic Republic of Iran agrees to the TOTAL, IMMEDIATE and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attacks on Iran for a period of two weeks.” — Donald Trump via Truth Social

The war between the United States, Israel, and Iran began on February 28, 2026, when the two allies launched strikes against Iranian targets in what was designated Operation Epic Fury. Ali Khamenei, who had served as Iran's Supreme Leader since 1989, was killed in the initial strikes. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was appointed Supreme Leader on March 9, 2026. Iran responded by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 percent of the world's oil volume is transported, primarily to Asian markets.

20 (percent) — share of global oil transported through Strait of Hormuz

Iran and Israel offer contradictory readings of the deal The two sides presented sharply divergent accounts of what the ceasefire means and who prevailed. Iranian state media, including the Mehr and Tasnim news agencies, declared a "historic and devastating defeat" for the United States and Israel, with crowds gathering in Tehran to celebrate what state outlets framed as a victory. The Iranian Supreme National Security Council stated that "the enemy suffered an undeniable, historic, and crushing defeat in its cowardly, illegal, and criminal war against the Iranian nation." According to the New York Times, citing Iranian government officials, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei personally approved the ceasefire. The council also warned that Iran "keeps its finger on the trigger, and if the enemy makes the smallest mistake, we will respond with full force," according to Reuters. The White House, by contrast, announced a "total and complete victory," according to AFP, as reported by Reuters. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that navigation through the strait would be possible "in coordination with the armed forces of Iran" and "taking technical limitations into account" — language that analysts in the United States interpreted as a signal that Tehran intends to retain some degree of control over which vessels pass through.

„Islamic Iran, along with the brave resistance fighters in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and occupied Palestine, has dealt the enemy blows over the past 40 days that the historical memory of the world will never forget.” — Iranian Supreme National Security Council via Reuters

Fighting continued overnight despite the truce announcement Despite the ceasefire declaration, hostilities continued across the region on the night of April 7 to 8, with no precisely defined time for the truce to take effect. According to findings by the Times of Israel and Al Jazeera, the Israeli air force carried out airstrikes on targets in both Iran and Lebanon after the announcement. The Israeli army simultaneously reported intercepting Iranian missiles aimed at Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Defense systems were also activated in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, according to Reuters, while Qatar's military reported intercepting rockets. A Pentagon official confirmed to media that U.S. military offensive actions had ceased, though a U.S. military representative cited by the Associated Press clarified that defensive operations were continuing. The question of Lebanon added another layer of ambiguity: the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the ceasefire "does not include hostilities in Lebanon," where Israel has been conducting an intensive campaign against the pro-Iranian group Hezbollah since early March. That position directly contradicted Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who stated the truce "applies to all parties to the conflict, including their allies, and applies everywhere, including Lebanon."

Road to the ceasefire: — ; — ; — ; — ; —

Iran's 10-point demands include sanctions relief and US troop withdrawal The substance of Iran's 10-point proposal remains contested between the two governments. The Tasnim news agency reported that Tehran's plan includes a permanent ceasefire, the lifting of all sanctions, the withdrawal of U.S. troops from bases in the region, American acceptance of Iran's uranium enrichment program, and Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz. The White House has not publicly confirmed or denied these specific terms, describing the document only as a "practical basis for negotiations." China reportedly played a role in bringing Iran to the table, with the New York Times citing Iranian government officials as saying Beijing intervened "at the last minute" and urged Tehran to show flexibility. Iran and Oman separately announced plans to collect transit fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire period, according to the state-run Iranian news agency Tasnim. Formal peace negotiations between the United States and Iran are scheduled to begin on Friday, April 10, in Islamabad, with Tehran stating it enters talks with "a total lack of trust in the American side." The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that since March 2, at least 1,530 people had died in Israeli attacks on Lebanon, including 130 children, and approximately 1.2 million residents of southern Lebanon had been displaced — a conflict that the ceasefire, as currently framed by Israel, does not cover.

1530 (deaths) — reported fatalities in Lebanon since March 2, per Lebanese Ministry of Health

Perspektywy mediów: The ceasefire reflects US overreach and diplomatic failure, with Iran extracting major concessions including potential sanctions relief and recognition of its nuclear program. Trump secured a strategic win by forcing Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and agree to negotiations, averting a broader oil crisis through maximum pressure.