US President Donald Trump declared on Truth Social at 4.02 am (IST) Wednesday that the US and Iran have agreed to a ‘two-week’ ceasefire, adding that Tehran has committed to ‘complete, immediate and safe’ re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
“Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,” the US President wrote.
The declaration came a little less than 90 minutes before the deadline Trump dictated Monday, and hours after he issued a final ultimatum to Iran, threatening that “a whole civilisation will die” if Tehran does not agree to lift the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Wednesday 5.30 am (IST).
In the final hours leading up to Trump’s deadline, China and Russia exercised their veto at the UN Security Council to block a resolution to re-open the shipping choke point. Tehran termed the resolution, drafted by Bahrain, “flawed factually, legally and politically”.
On Monday, Trump had in a profanity-laced Truth Social post threatened to attack Iran’s power plants and bridges if Tehran would not agree to the US proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire by Tuesday 8 pm (Eastern Time).
Pakistan has said it has invited both US and Iran to Islamabad for further talks Friday.
Meanwhile, Israel has backed US’ decision to suspend strikes against Iran, but said that the ceasefire ‘does not include’ Lebanon.
Trump declares ‘ceasefire’ with Iran | LIVE UPDATES
8 pm: Araghchi discusses Israeli strikes in Lebanon with Munir
Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi said Wednesday that he discussed with Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir “violations of the ceasefire in Iran and Lebanon”.
Violations of ceasefire have been reported at few places across the conflict zone which undermine the spirit of peace process. I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire for two weeks, as agreed upon, so that diplomacy can take a…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 8, 2026
Earlier in the day, Israel targeted multiple locations in central Beirut in one of its most extensive bombing raids in Lebanon in recent weeks.
Lebanon’s President, Joseph Aoun, condemned the strikes as “barbaric” and said they add to Israel’s “dark record” of defying “all human values”.
“These barbaric acts of aggression, which recognise no right and respect no agreements or commitments, have repeatedly demonstrated an utter disregard for all international laws and norms,” Aoun said.
7.45 pm: US top general says ‘ready to resume fighting if…’
General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a press conference Wednesday that American troops are ready to resume fighting if the ceasefire with Iran falls through.
“We hope that Iran chooses a lasting peace,” he said.
Adding, “A ceasefire is a pause and the joint force remains ready, if ordered or called upon, to resume combat operations, with the same speed and precision as we’ve demonstrated over the last 38 days.”
6.30 pm: Will continue striking Hezbollah, says Israel
Israel’s Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said Wednesday that the IDF will “continue striking” Hezbollah and “will utilise every operational opportunity”.
“We will not compromise the security of the residents of northern Israel. We will continue to strike with determination,” said Zamir, hours after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire.
“We will continue striking the Hezbollah terror organization and will utilize every operational opportunity. We will not compromise the security of the residents of northern Israel. We will continue to strike with determination.”
— IDF Chief of the General Staff LTG Eyal Zamir… pic.twitter.com/h1ZWPftRWz
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 8, 2026
6 pm: Shehbaz thanks China, Saudi, others for support
Pakistan PM writes in a post on X, “As we proceed to *Islamabad Talks*, I wish to extend our deepest and sincere gratitude to our brotherly countries People’s Republic of China, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Türkiye, Arab Republic of Egypt and State of Qatar for extending invaluable and all out support towards reaching the ceasefire and giving peaceful diplomatic efforts a chance to seek a comprehensive and conclusive end to the conflict.”
He adds, “I would also like to deeply appreciate and thank our brotherly countries of Gulf Cooperation Council, whose consistent support and commitment to peace and stability in the region remains quintessential for our efforts.”
As we proceed to *Islamabad Talks*, I wish to extend our deepest and sincere gratitude to our brotherly countries People’s Republic of China, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Türkiye, Arab Republic of Egypt and State of Qatar for extending invaluable and all out support…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 8, 2026
5.50 pm: ‘Trump had power to cripple Iran’s economy,’ says Hegseth
Iran accepted the ceasefire under “overwhelming pressure”, Hegseth claims, saying that if Iran had refused Washington’s terms, then “the next targets would have been their power plants, their bridges, and oil and energy infrastructure”.
“President Trump had the power to cripple Iran’s entire economy in minutes, but he chose mercy,” he adds.
“(Iran) can no longer build missiles, build rockets, build launchers, or build UAVs. Their factories have been razed to the ground,” he further claims. The US had used less than 10 percent of its combat power in its war against Iran, he says.
5.45 pm: ‘US achieved its goal of wiping out Iran’s navy and air force’: Hegseth
“The world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism proved utterly incapable of defending itself, its people or its territory,” Hegseth says, adding that US has achieved its military goals of wiping out Iran’s navy and airforce.
5.40 pm: ‘Trump chose mercy for Iran’: US Secretary of War Hegseth at press briefing
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says Iran has been a threat to the US for 47 years, but that’s “no longer”.
“President Trump forged this moment, Iran begged for this ceasefire, and we all know it,” he adds.
Hegseth says Operation Epic Fury was “historic and overwhelming”, adding that US forces “decimated Iran’s military”.
5.20 pm: ‘There will be no enrichment of Uranium, will be talking tariff and sanctions relief Iran’: Trump
The US will work closely with Iran, which we have determined has gone through what will be a very productive “regime change”, Trump has said.
“There will be no enrichment of Uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 Bombers) Nuclear ‘Dust’,” he wrote in a post on Truth Social. “We are, and will be, talking Tariff and Sanctions relief with Iran. Many of the 15 points have already been been agreed to.”
5.10 pm: Countries supplying weapons to Iran to be tariffed immediately, says Trump
In a new post on Truth Social, Trump has threatened to levy 50 percent tariffs on any country supplying military weapons to Iran, effective immediately.
“There will be no exclusions or exemptions!” he wrote.
4.40 pm: ‘Enemy attack’ at Iranian refinery
The National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company has said the Lavan oil refinery was targeted in an “enemy attack” without causing casualties, according to the Oil Ministry’s news outlet Shana, Reuters has reported.
The company said the facility was hit at around 10 am (0630 GMT), adding that safety and firefighting teams were working to contain the blaze and secure the site.
4.30 pm: Sharif says Iran has accepted Pakistan’s offer to host peace talks in Islamabad
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif says in a post on X that in a “warm and substantive conversation” with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, he conveyed his “deep appreciation for the wisdom and sagacity of the Iranian leadership in accepting Pakistan’s offer to host peace talks in Islamabad later this week to work jointly for the return of peace to the region”.
Pezeshkian has reaffirmed Iran’s participation in upcoming negotiations and expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s efforts, he added.
I had a warm and substantive conversation with President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran, this afternoon.
I conveyed my deep appreciation for the wisdom and sagacity of the Iranian leadership in accepting Pakistan’s offer to host peace talks in Islamabad later this week to work…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 8, 2026
4.20 pm: ‘If Iranians willing in good faith to work with us, we can make an agreement’: Vance
US Vice President J.D. Vance, who is currently on a visit to Hungary, has described the ceasefire as a “fragile truce”.
“If the Iranians are willing in good faith to work with us, I think we can make an agreement,” he said. “If they’re gonna lie, if they’re gonna cheat, they’re not gonna be happy.”
He said Trump had instructed the entire negotiating team, including Secretary of State Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, to “negotiate in good faith”, but warned that US retained “military, diplomatic, and extraordinary economic leverage” if Iran did not reciprocate.
3.50 pm: Kuwait says its air defences are dealing with ‘intense wave’ of Iranian attacks
According to a statement by a spokesperson of the Kuwaiti defence ministry, Kuwaiti air defences, since Wednesday morning, have intercepted “a large number of hostile drones, some of which targeted vital oil facilities and power stations in the south of the country, resulting in significant material damage to oil infrastructure facilities, power stations, and water desalination plants”.
“The General Staff of the Army affirms its full efforts in monitoring and confronting these treacherous targeting attempts,” the statement adds.
بيان رقم ( 55)
صادر عن المتحدث الرسمي لوزارة الدفاع
العقيد الركن سعود عبدالعزيز العطوانتتعامل الدفاعات الجوية الكويتية منذ الساعة الثامنة من صباح اليوم ولغاية الآن، لموجة مكثفة من الهجمات الإيرانية المعادية الآثمة، حيث تم التعامل مع عدد (28) طائرة مسيّرة، استهدفت دولة… pic.twitter.com/5bQ3LRHztp
— KUWAIT ARMY – الجيش الكويتي (@KuwaitArmyGHQ) April 8, 2026
3.30 pm: Relief for India, world as ceasefire opens Hormuz window. 172 million oil barrels stuck in Gulf
The two-week ceasefire in the West Asia conflict is likely to ease pressure on global oil supply chains with the opening of Strait of Hormuz, according to trade data tracking firm Kpler.
Data from Kpler shows that as of 7 April, nearly 172 million barrels of crude and refined petroleum products are still on water in the Gulf, distributed across around 187 laden tankers. The scale of these floating cargoes highlights the backlog created by weeks of disrupted transit through the Strait of Hormuz—a chokepoint that handles roughly a fifth of global oil flows.
The composition of these shipments is heavily skewed toward crude. Of the total volume, crude and condensate account for 132.2 million barrels, or roughly three-quarters of all oil currently at sea in the region. Clean petroleum products (CPP) and dirty petroleum products (DPP) each make up 19.8 million barrels.
According to Kpler data, most cargoes exiting the Gulf during conflict were bound for Asian markets, particularly China and India, underscoring the region’s continued dependence on Middle Eastern crude. In contrast, flows toward Europe were largely absent, suggesting either demand-side adjustments or logistical constraints tied to the conflict.
Read Udit Bubna’s report.
2.30 pm: Jaishankar to travel to UAE on 11 April to discuss energy security
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to travel to the UAE from 11 to 12 April to “review close cooperation and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”, the Ministry of External Affairs said Wednesday.
ThePrint has learnt that energy security and regional developments are expected to figure among the topics of discussion, apart from a review of the state of ties between India and UAE.
The visit is the second leg of Jaishankar’s travel. He will depart New Delhi Thursday for Mauritius, and will attend the Indian Ocean Conference organised by India Foundation and the Government of Mauritius, apart from meeting with the leadership of the East African nation.
A statement by MEA said, “In the second leg of the visit, EAM will pay an official visit to the United Arab Emirates from 11 to 12 April 2026. During the visit, EAM will meet the leadership of the UAE to review close cooperation and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.”
Jaishankar’s visit to the UAE will come a couple of days after the ceasefire between Iran, the US and Israel will be in force. The UAE has faced the brunt of Iran’s retaliation during the course of the almost six-week war.
2.10 pm: IDF continues ‘targeted ground ops’ against Hezbollah in Lebanon
The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) has said that it has “ceased fire in the operation against Iran, and is highly prepared to respond defensively against any violation”.
IDF conducted an overnight “wide-scale wave of strikes targeting missile launch sites and launchers across Iran”, according to a statement.
“Simultaneously, in Lebanon, the IDF is continuing to conduct targeted ground operations against Hezbollah,” the statement read.
⭕️ In accordance with directives from the political echelon, the IDF has ceased fire in the operation against Iran, and is highly prepared to respond defensively against any violation.
Overnight, the IDF conducted a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting missile launch sites and…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 8, 2026
1.10 pm: Albanese welcomes ceasefire, but calls Trump’s rhetoric worrying
1.00 pm: UK PM Starmer travelling to Gulf today
12.50 pm: Trump orders CNN to apologise over reporting a Iran’s ‘victory statement’, says authorities looking into its coverage
US authorities are looking into CNN’s reporting that Iran claimed “victory” over America and forced it to accept its 10-point plan for negotiations to end the war, President Trump said earlier today, while ordering the American media house to withdraw the statement and apologise for the report.
“The alleged Statement put out by CNN World News is a FRAUD, as CNN well knows. The false Statement was linked to a Fake News site (from Nigeria) and, of course, immediately picked up by CNN, and blared out as a ‘legitimate’ headline,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Authorities are looking to determine whether or not a crime was committed on the issuance of the Fake CNN World Statement, or was it a sick rogue player? CNN is being ordered to immediately withdraw this Statement with full apologies for their, as usual, terrible ‘reporting’,” he added.
In another post a few hours later, he wrote, “No one can believe that Fake News CNN put out a knowingly false and dangerous statement pretending it came from the upper levels of the Iranian Government. It didn’t! It was totally made up and posted, as a headline, for purpose of, perhaps, inflaming a very delicate situation. It was a new, trouble making site from Nigeria, and CNN just got caught cheating – A very dangerous thing to do!”
After announcing the ceasefire himself, Trump had shared a much milder worded statement made by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, highlighting that Iran will stop all defensive actions, once the US and Israel will halt their attacks.
CNN defended its reporting over the Iranian “victory” statement, asserting that it had received it from Iranian sources, which was also widely reported by the West Asian country’s domestic media. “The statement, which said Iran achieved a great victory and forced the United States to accept its 10-point plan as a basis for negotiations, was obtained by CNN from Iranian officials and reported on multiple Iranian state media outlets,” the American media house said in a report.
In its original update that led to Trump’s broadside, CNN had reported that “Iran says it has achieved a great victory and forced the United States to accept its 10-point plan, according to a statement from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council”.
12.10 pm: Jet fuel supply may take months to recover after Hormuz reopening, says IATA chief
Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said that even if Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz, it would take months for jet fuel supply to recover given disruptions to Middle East refining capacity.
Oil fell below $100 per barrel after Trump said he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran that was subject to the immediate and safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about a fifth of the world’s oil trade.
Walsh said that while he expected crude oil prices to fall, jet fuel costs were likely to remain slightly elevated due to the impact on refineries.
“If it were to reopen and remain open, I think it will still take a period of months to get back to where supply needs to be given the disruption to the refining capacity in the Middle East, which is a critical part of the global supply of refined products, and not just jet fuel for other products as well,” Walsh told reporters in Singapore.
11.50 am: Indian nationals still in Iran advised by embassy to ‘expeditiously exit’
In continuation of Tuesday’s advisory, India’s embassy in Iran has “strongly advised” Indian nationals still in the country to “expeditiously exit” in coordination with the embassy.
⚠️ Advisory as on 08 April 2026. pic.twitter.com/pusFQIAKKI
— India in Iran (@India_in_Iran) April 8, 2026
11.30 am: Iraq, Egypt, Australia among countries urging full commitment to ceasefire
Several countries, including Iraq, Egypt, Australia, Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia, have welcomed the announcement of the two-week ceasefire between Iran and US, emphasising the need for full commitment to the deal and refraining from escalations.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on all the parties to the current conflict in the Middle East to comply with their obligations under international law and to abide by the terms of the ceasefire in order to pave the way toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region, in a statement delivered by his spokesperson.
The Secretary-General has also expressed “sincere appreciation for the efforts of Pakistan and other countries involved in facilitating the ceasefire”.
10.45 am: Pakistan’s role in US-Iran ceasefire a ‘setback’ to PM Modi’s ‘highly personalised’ diplomacy, says Jairam Ramesh
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh has called Pakistan’s role in the US-Iran ceasefire a ‘severe setback’ to “both the substance and style of Mr Modi’s highly personalised diplomacy”.
In a post on X, he wrote: “The policy to isolate Pakistan for its continuing support to terrorism in J&K and to convince the world that it is a failed state has clearly not succeeded – unlike what Dr. Manmohan Singh had accomplished after the Mumbai terror attacks. That a bankrupt economy dependent entirely on the largesse of external donors and a broken country in so many ways was able to play such a role calls into question Mr. Modi’s strategy of engagement and narrative management.”
He added, “He [PM Modi] or his team has also never explained why Op Sindoor was suddenly and abruptly halted on May 10th 2025 – the first announcement of which came from the US Secretary of State and for which the US President has claimed credit almost a hundred times since then.”
The entire world will cautiously welcome the two-week ceasefire in the West Asia conflict between the US and Israel on the one side and Iran on the other.
The conflict had begun on Feb 28th with the targeted assassinations of the topmost echelons of the regime in Iran. These…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 8, 2026
10.35 am: Nifty, Sensex open 3.5% higher
Indian benchmark indices opened with significant gains Wednesday as global investor sentiment improved following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between US and Iran.
BSE Sensex stood at 77,230.04 points, marking an increase of 2,613.46 points or 3.5 percent at 9.15 am. Simultaneously, NSE Nifty 50 stood at 23,855.15 points, up by 731.5 points or 3.16 percent.
The key trigger for the rally was the sharp drop in crude oil prices, with Brent crude falling to around $94-95 per barrel after surging above $115 earlier.
Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India has kept the policy repo rate unchanged at 5.25 percent in the first monetary policy announcement of FY 2026-27, citing rising global uncertainties and geopolitical tensions. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said that the Monetary Policy Committee unanimously voted to maintain repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility at 5.25 percent.
10.30 am: Trump’s cabinet was divided over war in Iran while he backed Netanyahu’s ‘hawkish’ stance—NYT report
In the weeks leading up to US-Israeli military strikes against Iran, President Donald Trump’s war cabinet was sharply divided over the risks and merits of the action, with him mirroring Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hawkish stand, a New York Times report revealed Tuesday.
It revealed a White House split between “Trump the hawk”, eager for action, and “J.D. Vance the sceptic”, warning of unpredictable consequences, while offering a rare window into how Trump made some of the most consequential decisions of his presidency.
The account of the internal divide before the war is taken from reporting for a forthcoming book, Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump. It highlights how neither intelligence nor the vice-president wanted it, and others warned against it too, but the US President had made up his mind and was in line with Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Read Debdutta Chakraborty’s report.
9.45 am: ‘This could be the Golden Age of Middle East’—Trump
In a fresh post on Truth Social, US President Trump has said that it’s “a big day for world peace”.
“Iran wants it to happen, they’ve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else!” he wrote, adding that US will be helping with “the traffic buildup” in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Iran can start the reconstruction process. We’ll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just ‘hangin’ around’ in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will. Just like we are experiencing in the US, this could be the Golden Age of the Middle East!!!” he further wrote.
9.30 am: US journalist abducted by Iran-linked group in Iraq released
US journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped by Iran-aligned Iraqi armed group Kataib Hezbollah, has been released, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, adding that Pentagon, FBI and Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council were among the groups who helped secure her release.
“We are relieved that this American is now free and are working to support her safe departure from Iraq,” Rubio said.
8.50 am: Ceasefire does not include Lebanon, says Netanyahu
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that while Israel “supports President Trump’s decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks”, the ceasefire “does not include Lebanon”.
In statement on X, the PM also wrote, “Israel also supports the US effort to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat to America, Israel, Iran’s Arab neighbors and the world.”
The United States has told Israel that it is committed to achieving these goals, shares by the US, Israel and Israel's regional allies, in the upcoming negotiations.
The two-weeks ceasefire does not include Lebanon.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 8, 2026
7.50 am: Israel launches fresh strikes against Iran, reports Israeli media
Israel’s Channel 12 has reported that the military has launched new airstrikes on Iran despite the ceasefire announcement. The station said the new strikes on Iran’s missile-launching facilities came after Iran continued to launch missiles towards Israel, according to Reuters.
7.10 am: Democrats seek Trump’s removal as president
Earlier Tuesday, several Democrats in the US House of Representatives and Senate called for Trump’s impeachment for his post on Iran, where he had written that “a whole civilisation will die”.
Axios reported late last night that the count of Democrats seeking his removal stood at over 50.
By my count, there are now over 50 House Democrats, along with two Senate Democrats, who have called for Trump to be impeached or removed via the 25th Amendment for his post on Iran.
More here: https://t.co/AnkLkBKNpf https://t.co/EcpNH0DBT5 pic.twitter.com/BAwVYeQl14
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) April 7, 2026
US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrote in a post on X that the ceasefire announcement “changes nothing”.
“The President has threatened a genocide against the Iranian people, and is continuing to leverage that threat. He has launched a massive war of enormous risk and of catastrophic consequence without reason, rationale, nor Congressional authorization – which is as clear a violation of the Constitution as any. Each day this goes on, the risk and criminality of these actions escalate for our nation and the world,” she added.
This statement changes nothing.
The President has threatened a genocide against the Iranian people, and is continuing to leverage that threat.
He has launched a massive war of enormous risk and of catastrophic consequence without reason, rationale, nor Congressional… https://t.co/CVZzNtpNvW
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) April 7, 2026
7.00 am: Oil prices dip sharply
6.30 am: Iran-US talks likely to be held in Islamabad Friday, reports Axios
First round of talks between Iran and US on ending the war is expected to take place in Islamabad Friday, according to an Axios report.
However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier, “There are discussions about in-person talks, but nothing is final until announced by the President or the White House.”
6.15 am: UAE, Saudi Arabia advise citizens to stay in safe locations
Despite ‘ceasefire’, strikes in the Gulf are seemingly still underway.
UAE said about half an hour ago that its air defence systems were responding to a missile threat, advising citizens to stay in safe locations. Saudi Arabia also issued a similar advisory.
Air defense systems are currently responding to a missile threat. Please remain in a safe location and follow official channels for warnings and updates. pic.twitter.com/kh1fLXRDfe
— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) April 8, 2026
Explosions were also reportedly heard in Jerusalem.
6 am: Sharif says Iran, US agreed to ‘ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon’
Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif in a post on X announced that Iran, the US and their allies “have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY”.
“We earnestly hope, that the ‘Islamabad Talks’ succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in coming days,” he added.
5.25 am: Iran says will cease defensive ops if attacks against it are halted
Confirming the ceasefire declared by Trump, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi released a statement at 4:41 AM (IST) on behalf of the country’s Supreme National Security Council, saying Iran’s armed forces will cease their defensive operations if attacks against Iran are halted.
He expressed gratitude to Field Marshal Asim Munir and PM Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan “for their tireless efforts to end the war in the region”. He also said the decision to agree to a ceasefire was taken after “considering the request by the US for negotiations based on its 15-point proposal as well as the announcement of POTUS (US President) about acceptance of the general framework of Iran’s 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations”.
Trump shared the same statement on Truth Social, captioned: “Official statement of Iran”.
4.45 am: Trump declares ‘ceasefire’ with Iran
Donald Trump has deferred US strikes against Iran, declaring that Washington and Tehran have agreed to a ‘two-week ceasefire’ contingent on Iran committing to the ‘complete, immediate and safe opening’ of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said he ‘held off the destructive force’ being sent to Iran ‘at the request’ of Field Marshal Asim Munir and PM Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan.
Pakistan PM Sharif had in a post on X a little over three hours earlier said he ‘earnestly requested Trump to extend the deadline, and called on the Iranians to open the Strait of Hormuz for a period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture’.
An earlier version of the now-revised post began with: “*Draft – Pakistan’s PM Message on X*”
In the final hours leading up to Sharif’s post on X, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, who is also the Foreign Minister, held a telephonic conversation with the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Faisal bin Farhan, during which they “discussed the regional situation and evolving developments in the Middle East and the wider region”.
Dar also spoke to the Foreign Minister of Egypt, Badr Abdelatty, and Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to ‘discuss and exchange views on latest developments in the region’.
Trump had earlier in the day told Jacqui Heinrich of Fox News that the White House was in “heated negotiations” over the ceasefire proposal to which Iran had responded with a 10-point plan. Asked whether Trump had considered Sharif’s request, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had said in a statement shortly before the ceasefire declaration, “The President has been made aware of the proposal, and a response will come.”
In his post on Truth Social declaring the ceasefire, Trump wrote that there is “no military objective that justifies the wholesale destruction of a society’s infrastructure or the deliberate infliction of suffering on civilian populations”.
4.40 am: What happened in 24 hours leading up to ceasefire
In the final 24 hours leading up to the ceasefire, the US forces struck military installations on Iran’s Kharg Island while Israeli forces hit bridges and rail infrastructure in Iran, claiming they was being used by Iranians to transport troops and weapons.
At the UN Security Council, China and Russia vetoed a resolution aimed at re-opening the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran has continued to block for ‘enemy vessels’ since American and Israeli forces launched the first wave of strikes inside Iran on 28 February.
Before the resolution came up for discussion at UNSC, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s military had been targeting civilian infrastructure in Iran ‘used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to transport troops and weapons’.
Earlier in the day, Trump issued the most stark threat to Tehran. “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” he wrote in a post on Truth Social, adding that the next 24 hours will mark “one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the world”. The White House later clarified that the US does not intend to deploy nuclear weapons in Iran.
Alarmed by Trump’s ultimatum, UN General-Secretary António Guterres wrote in a post on X: “There is no military objective that justifies the wholesale destruction of a society’s infrastructure or the deliberate infliction of suffering on civilian populations.”
The only official confirmation to come out from the White House before Trump declared the ceasefire, besides Leavitt’s statement, was a post on X at 2.48 am (IST) saying “Iran’s decades of terrorism won’t continue under President Trump.”
Also Read: Countdown to Hormuz deadline: Trump’s ultimatum to Iran, Israeli strikes & vetoed UNSC resolution