Trump and Khamenei Agree to 14-Day Ceasefire to Reopen Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump announced a bilateral two-week ceasefire with Iran on April 7, 2026, just minutes before the expiration of his ultimatum threatening the destruction of Iranian infrastructure, following intensive mediation by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir. Trump announced the agreement on his Truth Social platform, stating he agreed to suspend bombing and attacks on Iran for two weeks on the condition that Tehran agree to a total, immediate, and secure opening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had blocked the strait in retaliation for the war launched against it on February 28, 2026, by Israel and the United States. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei ordered a halt to military operations, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a statement on behalf of the Supreme National Security Council confirming that safe navigation through the strait would be possible for the duration of the truce, in coordination with Iranian armed forces and subject to unspecified technical limitations. Trump wrote that the truce was grounded in "great progress in talks on long-term peace" and that Iran had submitted a 10-point proposal which he described as a practical basis for negotiations.

Pakistan brokered the deal at the last hour The ceasefire came together in the final minutes before Trump's deadline, with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announcing that the agreement applied to all parties, including allies on each side, and specifically mentioned Lebanon and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah operating there. Sharif invited delegations from Iran and the United States to Islamabad for April 10 to begin formal peace negotiations. „Based on talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Marshal Asim Munir, in which they asked me to hold off on sending destructive forces into Iran tonight, provided that the Islamic Republic of Iran agrees to a TOTAL, IMMEDIATE, and SECURE 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 rmf24.pl Trump added that almost all past issues of contention had been agreed upon between the United States and Iran, and that the two-week period would allow for the finalization of a permanent agreement. According to reports cited by Reuters, China also played a role at the last minute, reportedly persuading Tehran to show greater flexibility. A Pentagon official confirmed that US military offensive actions had ceased, while noting that defensive operations remained ongoing. The American side emphasized that final arrangements for the Islamabad talks had not yet been fully confirmed.

Netanyahu carves out Lebanon from the truce Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office issued a statement on the morning of April 8 expressing support for Trump's decision to suspend strikes on Iran for two weeks, but explicitly stated that the ceasefire did not apply to Israel's operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah. „Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend attacks on Iran for two weeks, on the condition that Iran immediately opens the straits and ceases all attacks on the USA, Israel, and countries in the region.” — Benjamin Netanyahu's office via polsatnews.pl The statement directly contradicted the earlier claim by Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif, who had said the ceasefire applied to all hostilities everywhere, including Lebanon. Israel has been conducting airstrikes on southern Lebanon and Beirut, as well as a ground operation in the south, since the outbreak of the war with Iran, describing the campaign as directed against Hezbollah, which launched rocket fire on Israeli territory in solidarity with Tehran. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, 1,530 people have died in Israeli attacks on Lebanon and nearly 4,500 have been injured. Since March 2, approximately 1.2 million Lebanese have been displaced, according to Lebanese authorities. The Israeli statement said the ceasefire with Iran would enter into force immediately after Iran opened the Strait of Hormuz and halted all attacks on the United States, Israel, and regional states.

Oil prices plunge as markets react to truce news The announcement of the ceasefire triggered an immediate and sharp drop in global oil prices, which had surged dramatically since Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz following the February 28 outbreak of hostilities. 20 (percent) — share of global seaborne oil transported through Strait of Hormuz According to one set of reports, WTI crude fell by approximately 14 percent to around 97 dollars per barrel, while Brent crude dropped by nearly 10 percent to approximately 95 dollars per barrel. A separate source reported steeper declines, with Brent falling 15.9 percent to 92.30 dollars and WTI dropping 16.5 percent to 93.80 dollars per barrel. Asian stock markets responded positively, with Japan's Nikkei 225 gaining over 4.5 percent at opening, South Korea's Kospi rising over 5.5 percent, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng climbing nearly 3 percent. Despite the ceasefire announcement, reports emerged on April 8 from the Times of Israel and Al Jazeera that Israeli airstrikes continued in Iran and Lebanon, and the Israeli army 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, while Qatar's army reported intercepting rockets. Agencies noted that the absence of a precisely defined deadline for the ceasefire to take effect may explain why attacks were still occurring as of the morning of April 8.

The war between the United States and Israel against Iran began on February 28, 2026, in an operation that killed Ali Khamenei, the longtime Supreme Leader of Iran. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was appointed Supreme Leader on March 8, 2026. Iran responded to the military campaign by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, causing oil prices to surge by approximately 50 percent and pushing the price per barrel above 100 dollars, at times approaching 120 dollars. In the United States, gasoline prices exceeded 4 dollars per gallon for the first time since 2022. Iran's 10-point peace proposal, which forms the basis for the Islamabad negotiations, includes demands for the lifting of economic sanctions and the preservation of part of its nuclear program, including uranium enrichment.

2026-02-27: 70, 2026-03-01: 105, 2026-04-07: 113, 2026-04-08: 95

Strait of Hormuz transit conditions: Transit freedom (before: Free passage, over 100 ships daily, no fees, after: Coordinated with Iranian armed forces, subject to technical limitations, transit fees collected); Fee for passage (before: No fee, after: 2 million dollars per vessel (wartime rate, subject to negotiation))