EditTrump announces two-week ceasefire with Iran as Tehran claims victory
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council issued a statement claiming a “historic victory” and asserting that Washington had effectively accepted Tehran’s 10-point plan
In a dramatic late-night reversal on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two-week suspension of American and Israeli bombing of Iran, hailing Iran’s 10-point proposal as a “workable basis” for ending the conflict that has raged since late February.
The truce is explicitly tied to Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the vital chokepoint through which one-fifth of global oil passes. Hours later, Iran declared victory, while oil prices collapsed more than 13 percent in Asian trading.
The announcement came less than two hours before Trump’s self-imposed deadline, after which he had threatened to strike Iranian power plants, bridges and other civilian infrastructure.
“The truth is that President Trump and our powerful military got Iran to agree to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and negotiations will continue,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi responded swiftly on X, stating that Tehran would “stop its counter-attacks in the Gulf and against Israel once strikes against Iran halt” and that “safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible.” Iranian state television framed the U.S. move as a “humiliating retreat,” and scenes of celebration broke out in Tehran streets.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council went further, issuing a statement claiming a “historic victory” and asserting that Washington had effectively accepted Tehran’s 10-point plan. The plan reportedly includes provisions for safe passage through the strait, compensation mechanisms and broader regional de-escalation. Trump later derided some Iranian victory statements circulating in media as “fraud,” but the core ceasefire framework appears to be holding for now.
Here’s the 10 point peace plan found “acceptable” by Trump now circulating. Huge strategic defeat for the US, biggest loss since Vietnam. Shows the surge of Iran as the emerging 4th center of world power. pic.twitter.com/zrcNyWqhZj
— Robert A. Pape (@ProfessorPape) April 8, 2026
Uncertainty over talks and implementation
The ceasefire remains provisional and fragile. U.S. officials say strikes have paused, but full implementation depends on Iran actually reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials indicated the waterway would be managed by their armed forces during the two-week window, with safe passage coordinated accordingly.
Talks between the two sides are scheduled to begin on 10 April in Islamabad, Pakistan, with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acting as mediator. Sharif posted that both parties had agreed to an “immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.” However, the White House has been more cautious, confirming only that “discussions about in-person talks” are under way and that nothing is finalised until formally announced by the President.
The situation on the ground remains fluid. Less than two hours after Trump’s announcement, Israeli media reported fresh Iranian missile launches toward Israel, with explosions heard in Tel Aviv and interceptions over Jerusalem and the West Bank. Israel responded with airstrikes on Iranian missile facilities.
Israel limits ceasefire to exclude Lebanon
A major point of contention is the geographic scope of the truce. While Pakistan’s prime minister portrayed the deal as applying “everywhere,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made clear that Israel supports the two-week pause on strikes against Iran but that the ceasefire “does not include Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.” Israeli officials insist operations against Hezbollah will continue, creating immediate uncertainty about whether the truce can hold across the wider region.
Iran-backed groups, including the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, announced they would suspend operations for the two-week period, following the US-Iran understanding.
Oil markets breathe a sigh of relief
Markets reacted sharply to the de-escalation news. Brent crude futures plunged $14.84, or 13.6 percent, to $94.43 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell $16.13, or 14.3 percent, to $96.82 a barrel in early 8 April trading – both dropping below the psychologically important $100 mark for the first time in weeks.
The sharp decline reflects investor hopes that reopening the Strait of Hormuz will quickly restore roughly 20 percent of global oil supply that has been disrupted or subject to Iranian restrictions since the conflict intensified.
Gulf states, including the UAE, reported intercepting Iranian missiles and drones in the hours after the announcement, and a fire was reported at ADNOC’s Habshan gas facility, underscoring lingering risks.
Fragile calm after weeks of escalation
The war erupted on 28 February with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. Iran retaliated with missile barrages and, crucially, imposed controls on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, driving oil prices above $120 a barrel at their peak and triggering global economic alarm.
Trump had repeatedly warned that failure to reopen the strait would result in “complete demolition” of Iranian infrastructure. Iran, for its part, rejected earlier ceasefire proposals and insisted on a permanent end to hostilities.
The two-week pause now offers a narrow window for diplomacy, but deep distrust remains on all sides. Whether the Strait of Hormuz reopens fully, whether talks in Islamabad produce a lasting agreement, and whether Israel’s operations in Lebanon derail the broader truce are the critical questions that will determine if this ceasefire becomes the first step toward peace or merely a temporary breathing space.
With Reuters, edited by g.g.
Caption: Iranians burn U.S. and Israeli flags during a demonstration following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire at Enghelab Square in Tehran, Iran, 8 April 2026. Iran and the USA agreed to the two-week truce to halt military operations and keep the Strait of Hormuz open for oil and gas shipments, with formal peace talks set to begin in Islamabad on 10 April. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
Updated: April 8, 2026 - 06:42
