US and Iran Agree to 14-Day Ceasefire in Historic Diplomatic Breakthrough
The US and Iran have entered a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, reopening the Strait of Hormuz while negotiations begin in Islamabad.
Islamabad Brokered Truce Pauses 40 Days of Intensified Conflict
TEHRAN/WASHINGTON – A fragile two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, marking the first significant pause in a 40-day conflict that has pushed the Middle East to the precipice of total war.
The truce, brokered by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, follows a period of unprecedented violence that began on February 28. The conflict has seen devastating air strikes, missile exchanges, and a naval standoff that paralyzed global energy markets.
"Both parties have displayed remarkable wisdom," Prime Minister Sharif announced via X (formerly Twitter), confirming that negotiations to bridge the gap between Washington and Tehran are scheduled to begin in Islamabad this Friday.
Terms of the Agreement
Under the initial terms, the United States and Israel have committed to halting all military strikes against Iranian territory. In exchange, Tehran has agreed to the "complete, immediate, and safe opening" of the Strait of Hormuz for a 14-day window.
The Strait, a primary artery for 20% of the world’s oil and gas, had been effectively closed by Iran in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes. The reopening is expected to provide immediate relief to soaring global energy prices.
U.S. President Donald Trump, posting on Truth Social, described a 10-point Iranian proposal as a "workable basis" for a permanent resolution. While Trump claimed that "almost all points of past contention have been agreed to," he struck a cautionary tone during an interview with Sky News: "If [negotiations] aren’t good, we’ll go right back to it very easily."
The truce, brokered by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, follows a period of unprecedented violence that began on February 28.
The "10-Point Proposal": High Stakes and Hidden Details
While the formal details of the negotiations remain classified, reports indicate that Iran’s demands are extensive. According to Al Jazeera’s Diplomatic Editor James Bays, the proposal includes:
- Sanctions Relief: Retraction of all primary and secondary sanctions and UN Security Council resolutions against Iran.
- Nuclear Sovereignty: Acceptance of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program.
- Military Withdrawal: The exit of US combat forces from regional bases.
- Reparations: Compensation for war damages, potentially funded through transit fees collected from ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Asset Release: Unfreezing of all Iranian assets held abroad.
President Trump has insisted that Iran's nuclear stockpile will be "perfectly taken care of" in any final deal, though he suggested the "maximalist demands" being leaked by Iranian officials may differ from the actual text being discussed in private.
Israel and the Lebanon Exception
The ceasefire faces an immediate challenge regarding its geographic scope. While Israel has agreed to pause strikes on Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified that the truce does not extend to Lebanon.
"The ceasefire does not include Lebanon," Netanyahu stated, contradicting claims from the Pakistani mediators. Israeli forces continued strikes near Tyre on Wednesday morning, maintaining their offensive against Hezbollah.
The conflict in Lebanon escalated on March 2, after Hezbollah launched retaliatory strikes following the reported assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the war’s opening day. Lebanese authorities report that at least 1,497 people have been killed since the outbreak of hostitilites.
What’s Next for the Region?
The focus now shifts to Islamabad, where diplomats will attempt to turn a temporary halt in violence into a durable peace.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Iran's "Powerful Armed Forces" would remain in a defensive posture as long as attacks against the country cease. Meanwhile, pro-Iranian armed groups in Iraq have also declared a 14-day moratorium on attacking US bases.
However, significant hurdles remain. Washington has historically demanded limits on Iran's ballistic missile program—a topic Tehran declares non-negotiable. Furthermore, the legal mechanism for "war reparations" through maritime tolls is likely to face stiff international opposition.
As the 14-day countdown begins, the world watches to see if diplomacy can survive the deep-seated animosity between the two powers.
