Trump Suspends Iran Strikes for Two-Week Truce to Reopen Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump announced a two-week truce with Iran on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, suspending planned military strikes less than two hours before a deadline expired, conditional on the "complete, immediate, and secure" reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump announced the agreement on his Truth Social platform, citing mediation by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces. Iran's Supreme National Security Council accepted the 14-day truce and described it as "a great victory," announcing that its armed forces would coordinate transit through the Strait of Hormuz during the truce period. The conflict between the United States and Iran had begun on February 28, 2026, and the strait had been blocked for five weeks prior to the announcement.

„Based on discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan, and following their request to delay the destructive force that was to be launched tonight upon Iran, and on the condition that the Islamic Republic of Iran agrees to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE and SECURE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombings and the attack on Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a truce on both sides!” — Donald Trump via Truth Social

The US-Israel military campaign against Iran, designated Operation Epic Fury, began on February 28, 2026, with strikes that killed then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran subsequently blocked the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world's oil transits, severely disrupting global energy supplies. China previously played a mediating role in a 2023 rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, establishing a precedent for Beijing's involvement in Middle Eastern diplomacy. The five-week blockade of the strait drove global oil prices sharply higher from pre-conflict levels of around $70 per barrel.

US-Iran Conflict and Truce — Key Events: — ; — ; —

Iran's 10-point plan sets ambitious terms for peace Iran transmitted a 10-point peace plan through Pakistani intermediaries, which Trump described as a "viable basis" for negotiations, though analysts noted that several of its conditions had previously been rejected by Washington. Among the most contentious points, according to Iranian state media, is Iran's demand for control over the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway it did not formally control before the conflict began. Iran's Supreme National Security Council stated that the plan also calls for the United States to lift all primary and secondary sanctions against Iran and to withdraw American combat forces from all bases in the region. Iranian state television broadcast messages declaring "Trump accepts Iran's terms for ending the war," framing the truce as a diplomatic victory. The council stated that adoption of such a resolution "will constitute a significant diplomatic victory for the Iranian nation." International analysts cited in reporting suggested that Iran's demands represent a starting point for negotiations rather than final conditions, and that maximalist positions are unlikely to be accepted in their current form. Negotiations between the two sides are scheduled to continue in Islamabad on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the invitation of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

„We received a 10-point proposal from Iran and we believe it represents a viable basis for negotiations. Almost all points of divergence from the past have been agreed upon between the United States and Iran, but the two-week period will allow for the finalization and conclusion of the agreement.” — Donald Trump via Truth Social

China's role acknowledged, Lebanon dispute clouds the deal Trump confirmed that China played a role in convincing Iran to accept the truce, telling AFP "Yes, I heard that" when asked whether Beijing had been involved. A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, told CNN that China "has made efforts to contribute to the ceasefire and the end of the conflict" since the beginning of hostilities. The truce announcement immediately generated a dispute over its geographic scope. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the agreement covers Lebanon and other areas "with immediate effect," while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office issued a statement in English explicitly clarifying that "the two-week truce does not include Lebanon." Netanyahu's office welcomed the truce as applied to Iran, expressing support for Trump's decision to suspend attacks "subject to Iran's immediate opening of the straits and the cessation of all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region." The Israeli statement also expressed support for US efforts to ensure Iran "no longer poses a nuclear, missile, and terrorist threat" to the region. It remains unclear when the truce formally took effect, as attacks and missile strikes were reported to be continuing across the region at the time of the announcement.

„Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend attacks against Iran for two weeks, subject to Iran's immediate opening of the straits and the cessation of all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region.” — Benjamin Netanyahu's office via Ziare.com

Oil prices record sharpest daily drop in six years Global oil markets reacted sharply to the truce announcement, with US West Texas Intermediate crude falling by up to 19% intraday, the largest single-day drop in nearly six years, according to reporting by HotNews. WTI settled at approximately $94.47 per barrel, still down around 16% on the day. Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell by approximately 15.9% to $92.30 per barrel. Despite the sharp decline, both benchmarks remained significantly above pre-conflict levels of around $70 per barrel recorded before February 28. Major stock indices in the Asia-Pacific region rose in early trading, with Japan's Nikkei 225 climbing 4.5% and Australia's ASX 200 gaining more than 2.5%. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stated that safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz "will be possible through coordination with the Armed Forces of Iran and taking into account technical limitations" during the two-week period.

19% (intraday drop) — WTI crude oil's largest single-day decline in six years