3 Countries Promoting 2-Week Ceasefire: The World Sitting On Tenterhooks
The Strait of Hormuz has become a contentious location due to military strikes under the codename Operation Epic Fury, which began Feb 28, 2026. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard firmly warned on March 2, 2026, that safety was no longer guaranteed to anyone coming in or out of the Strait.
With the sudden surge in oil prices due to the shutdown, tensions have been rising tacross the globe. President Trump then issued an ultimatum on April 5, 2026. In the statement, he demanded the Strait be opened, or Tuesday would become “Power Plant Day” and “Bridge Day.”
Possible Peace In The Middle East
According to Reuters, as early as Monday morning, on April 6, 2026, a source said there had been a framework initiated by Pakistan to cease hostilities. This was exchanged between the U.S. and Iran overnight, with an outlined two-tier approach: an immediate ceasefire, to be finalized by a comprehensive agreement. Their source informed that it would be a memorandum of understanding, finalized electronically through Pakistan as the communication channel between the two. At the time of Reuters reporting, Iran had not yet responded, and proposals had drawn no commitment so far.
This agreement has been tentatively referred to as the “Islamabad Accord,” resulting in a ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, with a span of 15-20 days to finally reach an agreement. While Pakistan served as the primary conduit for communications to alleviate the growing tensions, Turkey and Egypt are also deeply involved in helping to smooth things over.
April 7, 2026 – An Agreement Is Reached
Both have agreed to a ceasefire, though both governments also claim victory for the agreement. According to GMA News, the last-minute deal hinges on Iran agreeing to pause its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which is responsible for around one-fifth of global shipments. The Foreign Minister of Iran, Abbas Araqchi, said the counter-attacks would cease, suspending the blockade and allowing passage. President Trump was seen posting on Truth Social that this is a double-sided ceasefire, as they work on an agreement for long-term peace.
The Iranian Supreme National Security Council has made it appear they won a victory over the U.S., saying President Trump accepted their terms for hostilities coming to an end. Afterward, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke on how it was a victory for the U.S., with the president and the U.S. military being the clinching factor for the success. GMA News states that a source was expressing hesitancy about the ceasefire holding.
Conditional Reopening
While the White House confirmed Israel agreed and would suspend its bombing of Iran, the caveat is that Israel’s campaign in Lebanon was part of the deal. With no clear stance on when the ceasefire will be in effect, Israeli media said that once the reopening of the Strait happens, they would also stop. Though for the time being, they are operating under the assumption that Iran will not stop, therefore, they will continue as they have been doing.
More than an hour after President Trump’s announcement, the Israeli military reported identifying missiles launched from Iran, with explosions from intercepted projectiles audible across Tel Aviv. Those from surrounding areas, including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, issued near-simultaneous alerts and activated their air defenses.
GMA News reported that the markets had sighed with relief as U.S. stock futures rose within minutes following President Trump’s message, with oil prices falling sharply and U.S. crude hitting its lowest since March 26. Global leaders urged the ceasefire to hold, with the Australian government adding that the longer the war wages on, the more significant the impact on the global economy will be, and the greater the human cost.
