US and Iran agree to provisional ceasefire as Tehran says it will reopen strait of Hormuz

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https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/07/trump-iran-war-ceasefire

Donald Trump at the White House on 6 April. The US and Iran have agreed to a two-week conditional ceasefire. Photograph: The Washington Post/Getty


US president abandons threat for Iran to surrender or face destruction with last-minute intervention led by Pakistan

The US and Iran agreed to a two-week conditional ceasefire on Tuesday evening, which included a temporary reopening of the strait of Hormuz, after a last-minute diplomatic intervention led by Pakistan, canceling an ultimatum from Donald Trump for Iran to surrender or face widespread destruction.

Trump’s announcement of the ceasefire agreement came less than two hours before the US president’s self-imposed 8pm Eastern time deadline to bomb Iran’s power plants and bridges in a move that legal scholars, as well as officials from numerous countries and the pope, had warned could constitute war crimes.

For several hours afterwards, Israel’s position or agreement with the deal was unclear. But just before midnight ET, the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel backed the US ceasefire with Iran but that the deal did not cover fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon. His office said Israel also supported US efforts to ensure Iran no longer posed a nuclear or missile threat.

Pakistan’s prime minister had previously said that the agreed ceasefire covered “everywhere including Lebanon”.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, issued a statement shortly after Trump’s announcement saying Iran had agreed to the ceasefire. “For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordinating with Iran’s Armed Forces,” he wrote.

For several hours afterwards, Israel’s position or agreement with the deal was unclear. But just before midnight ET, the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel backed the US ceasefire with Iran but that the deal did not cover fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon. His office said Israel also supported US efforts to ensure Iran no longer posed a nuclear or missile threat.

Pakistan’s prime minister had previously said that the agreed ceasefire covered “everywhere including Lebanon”.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/07/trump-iran-war-ceasefire

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