Iran Accepts USA’s Two-Week Ceasefire Request

The United States of America (hereinafter: USA) and Iran agreed to a two-week suspension of military operations on 7 April 2026. The President of the USA announced the ceasefire less than two hours before a deadline he had established for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran submitted a 10-point proposal that Trump described as providing a workable basis for negotiations, with formal talks scheduled to commence in Islamabad on 11 April.

Ceasefire Terms and Strait of Hormuz

Under the agreement announced on 7 April, Iran agreed to allow safe transit of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime corridor through which approximately one-fifth of global oil supplies pass. The strait had been effectively closed since early March 2026 as part of Iran’s response to the military aggression initiated by the USA and Israel on 28 February.

President Trump stated in a telephone interview with Sky News that the USA achieved all their military objectives in Iran. He characterised the situation as a complete accomplishment of their goals, whilst indicating openness to negotiations based on Iran’s 10-point proposal. Trump stated that most points in the proposal had been fully negotiated and warned that military action could resume if the ceasefire and negotiations fail to produce results.

Iran’s Negotiation Framework

According to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the 10-point proposal delivered through Pakistani mediation includes commitments from the USA regarding non-aggression, continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz and acceptance of uranium enrichment activities. The proposal also encompasses the lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions against Iran, payment of compensation, withdrawal of North American combat forces from the region and cessation of warfare on all fronts, including military operations in Lebanon.

Iran’s administration has claimed achievement of its objectives whilst cautioning that upcoming discussions in Islamabad do not guarantee a definitive end to hostilities. The talks represent the first direct negotiations between Tehran and Washington since the conflict began in late February 2026.

International Responses

Multiple states welcomed the ceasefire announcement whilst urging complete adherence to its terms. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed satisfaction with the temporary truce and affirmed Türkiye’s commitment to efforts aimed at securing permanent peace. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate telephone conversations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on 8 April to discuss mechanisms for transforming the temporary ceasefire into lasting regional peace.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez welcomed the ceasefire whilst declining to praise the parties involved. He stated that Spain would not applaud those responsible for initiating the conflict simply because they pursued a resolution. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares emphasised that the agreement represents a necessary but insufficient step, noting that a substantial distance remains before achieving peace. Albares specifically criticised Israel’s invasion of Lebanon and bombardment of Beirut’s civilian population.

Lebanon Exclusion Controversy

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement supporting the USA’s President’s decision to suspend strikes against Iran, but clarified that the ceasefire does not extend to Lebanon. Netanyahu indicated that Israel would continue its ground invasion and military operations against Hezbollah forces and civilians in Lebanese territory. This position contradicts statements made by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who announced that the USA, Iran and their allies had agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon.

The discrepancy regarding Lebanon’s inclusion in the ceasefire creates uncertainty about the scope of the agreement. Israeli forces have conducted a ground invasion of Lebanon and engaged in sustained combat with Hezbollah.

Regional Security Incidents

Multiple explosions occurred at Iran’s Lavan Island refinery facility on 8 April, hours after the ceasefire announcement. Iranian media reported the blasts but provided no information regarding casualties, structural damage or causation. The Lavan refinery represents a significant component of Iran’s energy export infrastructure, and disruptions to its operations carry regional implications for petroleum markets.

No entity has claimed responsibility for the explosions at the Lavan facility. During the preceding weeks of hostilities, Iran’s energy infrastructure experienced repeated targeting by USA-Israeli strikes, whilst Tehran conducted retaliatory drone and missile attacks against USA-linked assets across the Persian Gulf region. The incident raises questions about the durability of the ceasefire and whether it represents residual military activity, technical malfunction or continued covert operations.

Diplomatic Framework

Pakistan’s role as mediator proved instrumental in facilitating the ceasefire agreement. Multiple states, including Egypt, Türkiye, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, participated in negotiation efforts that produced the temporary truce. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the announcement and called on all parties to observe the ceasefire terms to enable progress towards comprehensive regional peace. Guterres emphasised the urgent necessity of ending hostilities to protect civilian populations and reduce humanitarian suffering.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara described the ceasefire as a positive development whilst awaiting a final agreement. Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry characterised the truce as significant progress towards de-escalating tensions but urged all parties to avoid provocative actions or unilateral measures that could destabilise the fragile agreement or threaten global economic and energy security.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong issued a joint statement noting Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on commercial vessels and civilian infrastructure have generated unprecedented energy supply disruptions affecting global oil and fuel prices. They emphasised that prolonged warfare would intensify economic impacts and human costs.

Concluding Outlook

The ceasefire agreement needs to be viewed with caution. In the past, Israel has repeatedly violated ceasefire agreements, which could be a dangerous variable in the current setting, in which the USA acted on behalf of Israel when attacking Iran. Further, the ongoing ground operation in Lebanon raises the question whether the expansionist aspirations of the aggressor states have truly been set aside, or whether the ceasefire only constitutes a tactical break to recollect forces and realign strategies.

As it stands currently, Iran is the clear winner in this preliminary agreement. Its military force was able to fend off the aggressions and decimate the military capabilities of the USA-Israel axis in the region to a point where the favourable terms in the 10-point proposal were accepted as the primary negotiation basis. Whether all of these points are going to be implemented eventually or honoured in the long run is the crucial question for the coming two weeks.