As the deadline set by US President Donald Trump for Iran approaches, new developments have emerged in the Iran-related conflict: Pakistan announced on the 8th that Iran, the United States, and their respective allies have agreed to an immediate ceasefire across all regions, including Lebanon, with the ceasefire taking effect right away. Iran also released statements on the same day, stating that it will hold two weeks of political negotiations with the United States in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, and that the Strait of Hormuz will be safe for navigation within two weeks. Iran also unveiled the main content of its 10-point ceasefire terms on the 8th.
Immediate Ceasefire Takes Effect
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted on social media early on the 8th, announcing that Iran, the United States, and their allies have agreed to an immediate ceasefire in all regions, including Lebanon, with the ceasefire coming into force immediately.Sharif said he welcomes the Iranian and US delegations to travel to Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, on April 10 for further negotiations to reach a final agreement aimed at resolving all disputes. He expressed hope that the Islamabad Talks will achieve lasting peace.
Iran Announces Negotiation Plans
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi announced on behalf of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council in the early hours of the 8th that the Strait of Hormuz will be safe for navigation within two weeks.The Secretariat of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council stated on the 8th that Iran will conduct two weeks of political negotiations with the United States in Islamabad, Pakistan, to consolidate the victory achieved in ground operations.Earlier, Iranian media reported on the 8th that Trump said, “We have received Iran’s 10-point proposal and consider it a viable basis for negotiations.”The report added that Trump stated, “Nearly all past disputes between the US and Iran have been agreed upon, and these two weeks will allow the agreement to be finalized and take effect.”Iran’s Supreme National Security Council issued a statement on the 8th, releasing the main content of the 10 ceasefire terms submitted to the United States via Pakistan.These terms include: controlled passage through the Strait of Hormuz coordinated with Iran’s armed forces; an end to all wars against regional resistance forces; the withdrawal of all US combat forces from all bases and deployment sites in the region; the formulation of a safe passage agreement for the Strait of Hormuz to ensure Iran’s dominant position; full compensation for Iran’s estimated losses; the lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions, and the revocation of relevant resolutions by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the UN Security Council; the unfreezing of all Iran’s frozen overseas assets and properties; and the final adoption of a binding UN Security Council resolution to endorse all the above terms.The statement noted that endorsement by the Security Council would make all these terms binding under international law, “bringing a major diplomatic victory to Iran.” Pakistan has informed Iran that the US side accepts these principles as the basis for negotiations.
US and Israel Agree to Two-Week Ceasefire
Trump posted on social media on the evening of the 7th local time, saying he had spoken with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Munir, who requested the US to suspend airstrikes on Iran. “I agree to pause all bombings and attacks on Iran for two weeks, on the condition that the Islamic Republic of Iran agrees to fully, immediately and safely open the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said. “This will be a two-way ceasefire.”A senior White House official told CNN on the evening of the 7th that Israel has also agreed to suspend bombing operations during the US-Iran negotiations.Following Trump’s decision to pause bombings and attacks on Iran, market concerns over military conflicts in the Middle East eased significantly, and the price of May-delivery light crude oil futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange plummeted by more than 15%.Trump reiterated on the 6th that whether the conflict with Iran is about to escalate or draw to a close depends on Iran’s response to his set deadline—8:00 PM Eastern Time on the 7th. On the 7th, he posted on social media to threaten Iran: “Tonight, civilization as we know it will end. I do not want this to happen, but it may.”
Pakistan Proposes Extending the Deadline
Earlier, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted on social media: “Diplomatic efforts to peacefully end the current Middle East conflict are advancing firmly and are expected to achieve tangible success in the near future.” To create space for the diplomatic process, he requested Trump to extend the deadline by two weeks, and also appealed to “Iranian brothers” to open the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks as a gesture of goodwill.Sharif also called on all warring parties to observe a two-week ceasefire to finalize an end to the war through diplomatic means and safeguard long-term peace and stability in the Middle East.
Iranian Envoy: China and Russia Stand Firmly on the Right Side of History
The UN Security Council voted on a draft resolution submitted by Bahrain concerning the Strait of Hormuz on the 7th. Of the 15 members, 11 voted in favor, Pakistan and Colombia abstained, and permanent members China and Russia cast vetoes—so the draft resolution was not adopted.Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Iravani, said in his remarks after the Security Council vote that China and Russia exercised their veto power over the Strait of Hormuz draft resolution, preventing the abuse of the Security Council, and stood firmly on the right side of history.“China and Russia have ensured that the Security Council does not become a tool to legitimize acts of aggression. They stand firmly on the right side of history,” Iravani said. “We express our deep gratitude to the two countries for their responsible conduct, constructive attitude, and exercise of the veto in full accordance with the principles of the UN Charter.”Iravani also thanked Colombia and Pakistan, noting that by abstaining, the two countries demonstrated their concern over the severe consequences the draft resolution would have for regional peace and stability if adopted.Iran’s Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Iravani as saying that those who supported the draft resolution blamed Iran for the crisis while remaining silent on the ongoing war crimes committed by the United States and Israel against Iranian civilians and critical infrastructure. “Their positions and votes reflect double standards. This exposes a huge gap between their professed commitment to the UN Charter and international humanitarian law and their actual actions.”China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, said in his explanatory remarks after the Security Council vote on the Strait of Hormuz draft resolution that against the backdrop of the highly likely further escalation of the war imposed on Iran, the adoption of the draft resolution would send an extremely wrong signal and lead to extremely severe consequences.