Fragile US-Iran Ceasefire Begins as Trump Issues Ultimatum Over Strait of Hormuz

The US and Iran agree to a two-week ceasefire mediated by Pakistan. Reopening of the Strait of Hormuz begins as Israel continues strikes in Lebanon.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 8, 2026, 7:59 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the BBC

A Breakthrough Mediated in Islamabad

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Wednesday morning that a conditional two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran is effective immediately. The breakthrough follows more than a month of intense aerial bombardment by the U.S. and Israel against Iranian military infrastructure. The truce was finalized just hours after President Donald Trump issued a chilling ultimatum on social media, warning that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed to international shipping.

Trump Claims Decisive Military Success

In a statement posted to Truth Social, President Trump confirmed he would "suspend the bombing and attack of Iran" for the 14-day window. The President justified the pause by asserting that American forces had "already met and exceeded all military objectives" during the campaign. This pivot follows weeks of escalatory rhetoric where Trump suggested the U.S. could neutralize Iranian capabilities "in one night," comments that drew sharp rebukes from the United Nations and Pope Leo XIV.

Tehran’s Ten-Point Proposal for Peace

Iran has agreed to allow vessels through the Hormuz Strait under the coordination of its military, but it has tied a long-term settlement to a comprehensive "10-point plan." Tehran’s demands include a total cessation of hostilities in Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen, the full lifting of Western sanctions, and the release of all frozen Iranian assets. Crucially, the plan includes a commitment that "Iran fully commits to not seeking possession of any nuclear weapons," though the Supreme National Security Council maintains that any final deal must consolidate Iran’s "victory in the field."