US, Israel, and Iran Reach Temporary Ceasefire; Strait of Hormuz to Open for Two Weeks

From April 7 to 8, 2026, a major shift occurred in the tense situation in the Middle East. With less than an hour and a half remaining before the "deadline" set by US President Trump for Iran, the United States, Iran, and Israel reached a two-week temporary ceasefire agreement through Pakistan's mediation. According to the agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be safely opened during this period, and the US and Iran will begin a new round of negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 10.

I.Ceasefire Agreement Reached Urgently, Pakistan Plays Key Role

On the evening of April 7 local time (early morning April 8 Beijing time), US President Trump announced on social media that, at the request of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief of Staff Asim Munir, he agreed to postpone the military strike against Iran originally scheduled for that night. Trump stated that if Iran agreed to "fully, immediately, and safely" open the Strait of Hormuz, the US would suspend bombing and attacks against Iran for two weeks, emphasizing that this would be a "two-way ceasefire."

In his post, Trump claimed that the reason for this move was that the US had "achieved and surpassed all military objectives" and had made "decisive progress" with Iran on a long-term peace agreement for the Middle East. He revealed that he had received Iran's ten-point proposal and considered it a feasible basis for negotiations. The two sides had almost reached agreement on all past disputes, and these two weeks would be used to finalize the agreement.

Almost simultaneously, a senior US White House official confirmed to CNN that Israel had also agreed to suspend bombing operations during US-Iran negotiations. Israel's Channel 12 reported that the ceasefire would take effect after Iran opened the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif officially announced on social media in the early hours of April 8 that Iran, the United States, and their respective allies had agreed to an immediate ceasefire in all regions, including Lebanon, effective "immediately." He confirmed that the ceasefire officially took effect at 3:30 a.m. Iran time (8:00 a.m. Beijing time on the 8th) and invited US and Iranian delegations to Islamabad on April 10 for further negotiations to reach a final agreement.

II.Iran Accepts Proposal, Unveils Ten-Point Plan, Emphasizes Negotiations Do Not Mean End of War

Iran's Supreme National Security Council issued a statement in the early hours of April 8 local time, announcing that, based on the Supreme Leader's recommendation and the Council's approval, it accepted Pakistan's ceasefire proposal. The statement declared that Iran had achieved "almost all objectives" in this war and that the enemy had suffered a "historic and complete defeat." Iran would "continue the struggle until its great achievements are consolidated and a new security and political landscape is established in the region."

Iran's Mehr News Agency quoted a statement from the Secretariat of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, reporting that negotiations with the United States would begin in Islamabad on April 10 for two weeks, extendable by mutual agreement. Iran explicitly stated that the goal of the negotiations was to "politically confirm Iran's achievements on the battlefield" within a maximum of 15 days. The report emphasized that negotiations with the United States "do not mean the end of the war" and that Iran would only accept the end of the war after all details are finalized based on its proposed "ten-point plan."

The core contents of Iran's ten-point plan include:

1.Coordinating with the Iranian armed forces to control passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

2.Ending the war against all members of the "Axis of Resistance" and terminating the aggression of the Israeli regime.

3.Withdrawal of US combat forces from all bases and deployment points in the region.

4.Establishing a safe transit protocol in the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring Iran's dominant position.

5.Full compensation for Iran's losses based on assessment results.

6.Lifting all primary and secondary sanctions and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

7.Releasing all frozen Iranian assets and properties abroad.

8.Acceptance of Iran's uranium enrichment activities.

9.Termination of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors resolutions.

10.Cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon.

The statement emphasized that all agreements reached through negotiations should be approved through a binding UN Security Council resolution, making them international law and bringing Iran an "important diplomatic victory." It called on all people to trust and support this process while warning that if negotiations fail, Iran is prepared to fight.

III.Strait of Hormuz to Ensure Safe Navigation, Global Markets React Sharply

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi announced on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council in the early hours of April 8 that the Strait of Hormuz would ensure safe navigation for two weeks. This move directly responded to Trump's ceasefire condition. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important oil transportation channels, and its safe passage is crucial to the global energy market.

After the ceasefire news broke, global markets reacted swiftly. Asia-Pacific stock markets surged across the board, with South Korea's KOSPI index soaring over 6% at one point, triggering a circuit breaker, and Japan's Nikkei 225 index rising over 4%. International oil prices plummeted sharply, with WTI crude oil futures plunging over 19% at one point, hitting a low of $91.05 per barrel, reflecting market expectations of a sharp decline in the risk of Middle East oil supply disruptions.

IV.Negotiation Prospects and Regional Impact

This temporary ceasefire is seen as a critical window to temporarily avert an imminent military conflict. Analysis suggests that Pakistan played an important role as an intermediary mediator. The upcoming negotiations in Islamabad starting April 10 will focus on Iran's ten-point plan. The plan is extensive and takes a firm stance, covering core issues ranging from regional security architecture and foreign military presence to lifting sanctions and recognizing nuclear rights.

Although the United States has accepted the ten-point plan as a basis for negotiations, how many of its terms it will ultimately agree to remains unknown. Israel's temporary ceasefire also depends on the negotiation process. The "Axis of Resistance" forces in the region and conflicts in places like Lebanon will also be included in the ceasefire scope.

The development of this event not only concerns the direction of US-Iran relations but will also profoundly impact the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, global energy security, and financial market stability. The outcome of the negotiations over the next two weeks will determine whether the region moves toward a long-term peace agreement or sees tensions escalate again.

END

Disclaimer:​ The content of this article is for reference only. Specific outcomes shall be subject to relevant laws and regulations and the determinations of local administrative authorities. If there are dynamic adjustments, they shall be based on official interpretations and releases from domestic and international competent authorities. The article is sourced from China News Service, CCTV News, Xinhua News Agency, China National Radio, etc. Images are sourced from the internet. If there are any infringement issues or copyright concerns, please contact admin@mbs-gz.com via email. We will handle the matter promptly. Thank you.