US-Iran Two-Week Ceasefire Agreed in West Asia

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on April 8, 2026, halting escalating hostilities in West Asia that had threatened broader regional instability. The agreement, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump late the previous day, came after mediation efforts by Pakistan and includes Iran's commitment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for safe passage, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments.

Trump's decision followed direct conversations with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, the chief of army staff. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that the pause on planned strikes was "subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz." He credited the Pakistani leaders' requests for averting what he had earlier described as potential devastation to Iran's infrastructure. Iran's Supreme National Security Council confirmed acceptance of the truce, noting it responded to a U.S. request for talks based on a 15-point American proposal and Tehran's 10-point framework. Negotiations are set to begin Friday in Islamabad, where delegations from both sides will seek a...