Trump agrees to suspend bombing of Iran for two weeks

In a dramatic de-escalation of the 2026 conflict, President Donald Trump announced a 14-day ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday, April 7, narrowly avoiding a massive military strike on Iranian infrastructure. The agreement hinges on Tehran’s commitment to an immediate and safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime passage that has been largely paralyzed for six weeks. Utilizing his Truth Social platform just an hour before a self-imposed deadline for "catastrophic" attacks, the President characterized the truce as a "double-sided ceasefire," asserting that the United States had already achieved its primary military objectives and was now pivoting toward a definitive long-term peace agreement in the Middle East.

The breakthrough follows an intense diplomatic push led by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, who presented a last-minute mediation proposal. This diplomatic intervention came at a moment of extreme tension, following Trump’s stark warning that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran did not yield. According to the President, the foundation for the upcoming negotiations in Islamabad is a 10-point proposal submitted by Tehran, which the White House has deemed a "workable basis" for discussion despite lingering skepticism from hardliners on both sides.

While the ceasefire has been hailed by global markets—causing oil prices to plummet nearly 13% overnight—the agreement remains precarious and subject to conflicting interpretations. Iranian officials have framed the truce as a victory, claiming the U.S. accepted their counter-proposal, while White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt maintains that it was American military pressure that forced Iran to reopen the strait. Furthermore, the scope of the ceasefire is under scrutiny; while Pakistani mediators suggested it covers all regional fronts including Lebanon, the Israeli government has indicated that its operations against Hezbollah will continue, labeling them a "separate skirmish."

As the two-week window begins, the primary challenge remains the logistical and secure reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed that Tehran would cease defensive operations and allow safe passage through the waterway, though maritime traffic remains thin as shipping companies await concrete proof of security. Both nations are expected to send high-level delegations to Pakistan this Friday to begin the arduous task of "finalizing and consummating" a deal that could end the most significant military confrontation between the two powers in decades.