Day 40: Two-Week Ceasefire — Iran Reopens the Strait of Hormuz
← Back to home

This article was generated by artificial intelligence and reviewed by Le Pivot's editorial team. We believe in transparency.

War in Iran AI Generated

Day 40: Two-Week Ceasefire — Iran Reopens the Strait of Hormuz

By Le Pivot — Iran Monitor · April 7, 2026 · 10 min read

Share

On the 40th day of the conflict, the world breathes a fragile sigh of relief. Less than one hour before the expiration of Donald Trump’s ultimatum — in which he threatened that “a whole civilization could die tonight” — the United States and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire. Tehran agrees to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to maritime transit, while Washington suspends its strikes. Negotiations are set to begin Friday in Islamabad under Pakistani mediation. But the truce remains precarious: the conditions set by both sides are diametrically opposed, and last-minute strikes before the ceasefire still claimed civilian lives.

A Ceasefire at the Last Hour

The agreement was reached Tuesday evening, barely 60 minutes before Trump’s deadline for a massive escalation against Iranian civilian infrastructure. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed accepting the truce, while Trump announced the suspension of military operations. Pakistan, through Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, played a decisive mediating role by transmitting Iran’s proposal to Washington. Trump also acknowledged China’s role in pressuring Tehran to reach an agreement.

Strait of Hormuz Reopens — With Conditions

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi outlined the terms: “For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.” This wording leaves Tehran with significant control over maritime traffic — far from the unconditional reopening demanded by Washington. Oil markets nonetheless responded with enthusiasm: crude plunged by more than 17%, falling below $100 per barrel for the first time since the conflict began.

Iran’s Ten-Point Peace Plan

Iran has presented an ambitious roadmap to transform the truce into a lasting peace. Among the demands: the lifting of all sanctions and UN resolutions against Iran, the release of frozen Iranian assets held abroad, the withdrawal of US combat forces from regional military bases, the creation of a war-damage compensation fund, and recognition of Iran’s right to uranium enrichment — in exchange for a pledge not to develop nuclear weapons. These conditions, which Washington will likely view as excessive, outline the framework for upcoming negotiations.

Final Strikes and Human Toll

The hours leading up to the ceasefire were marked by intensified strikes. In Iraq, last-minute attacks killed at least 7 people, including 2 children. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced a two-week suspension of operations. In Lebanon, Israeli operations continue despite the truce — Israel confirmed the ceasefire does not apply to the Lebanese front. An airstrike hit an ambulance near Tyre, and medical crews continue to be targeted. Gulf states — Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE — had activated their air defenses in the hours before the announcement.

International Reactions and Next Steps

In Tehran, residents took to the streets in celebration, with authorities presenting the truce as a victory achieved “on Iran’s terms.” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is scheduled to meet Trump on Wednesday to discuss implications for the Alliance. The first direct negotiations are planned for Friday in Islamabad, where Prime Minister Sharif has invited US and Iranian delegations to “settle all disputes.” But significant obstacles remain: Israel refuses to extend the ceasefire to Lebanon, executions of members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization (MEK) continue in Iran, and both parties are already interpreting the truce differently.

Key Takeaways

The two-week ceasefire marks the first respite in a conflict that has killed over 3,500 people in 40 days and triggered the worst global energy crisis in decades. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, even partial and conditional, offers immediate relief to oil markets. But Iran’s list of demands — sanctions relief, war compensation, US military withdrawal — foreshadows difficult negotiations in Islamabad. The real question is no longer whether the bombs will stop, but whether diplomacy can bridge the chasm between two irreconcilable visions before the truce expires.

Sources