2026 Iran war ceasefire

On 8 April 2026, the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire in the 2026 Iran war, mediated by Pakistan. Iran had rejected the proposed 'Islamabad Accord', which was a draft proposal for a 45-day two-phased ceasefire framework introduced on 5 April by Pakistan, instead proposing its own 10-point plan for a peace agreement. The proposal was developed as part of ongoing mediation efforts involving regional and international actors during the 2025–2026 negotiations.

Amidst an ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran, which has caused regional instability across the Middle East, a rise in fuel prices, and a disruption of passageway through the Strait of Hormuz, on 25 March, Pakistani officials delivered a US-led "15-point proposal" to Iran, detailing a ceasefire plan to end the war. According to Iran's English-language state broadcaster Press TV, Iran rejected the US proposal and outlined five conditions for an end to the war.

On 31 March, Pakistan and China delivered a "5 point initiative" for peace, calling for an immediate cessation of all hostilities and allowance of humanitarian assistance in the region.

The next ceasefire proposal was introduced on 5 April 2026. Furthermore, the proposal came amidst threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to target Iranian power plants and bridges if the ceasefire didn't reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The framework was, however, reportedly negotiated after overnight negotiations between Pakistani army staff chief Asim Munir, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi. The Financial Times reported that US pushed Pakistan to broker temporary Iran truce.

The ceasefire framework calls for an immediate halt to hostilities, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a 15–20 day period of negotiations between Iran and the U.S.

1. Immediate ceasefire: An immediate end to hostilities between the US (and Israel) and Iran.

2. Two-phase agreement structure:Phase 1: Temporary ceasefire;Phase 2: Negotiating for a permanent settlement.

3. Reopening the Strait of Hormuz: Iran must immediately reopen the strait of Hormuz, restoring global oil flow.

4. Guaranteed maritime security: Creating a regional framework ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

5. Nuclear constraints on Iran: Iran commits to stop its alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons as part of the final deal

6. Sanctions relief (conditional): The US signaled willingness to ease sanctions, but only in exchange for Iranian concessions.

7. Release of frozen Iranian assets: Part of incentives included unfreezing Iranian funds abroad

8. Structured negotiations via mediators: All talks will be channeled through Pakistan initially, then finalized in Islamabad.

9. Possible extended ceasefire window: During Phase 2 the discussions will be over a period of 45 days.

10. Broader regional de-escalation: The agreement aims to stabilize additional conflicts in the Middle East, not just the war with Iran.

11. Cessation of the war on Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen

12. Cessation of the war in Iran with no time limit

13. Ending all conflicts in the region

14. Reopening the Strait of Hormuz

15. Establishing a protocol and conditions to ensure freedom and security of navigation in the Strait

16. Full payment of war reparations to Iran

17. Lifting sanctions on Iran

18. Release of the Iranian frozen assets held by the United States

19. Iran commits to not seeking possession of any nuclear weapons

20. Immediate ceasefire on all fronts upon the ceasefire announcement

On 7 April (8 April in Iran and Israel), Trump announced on Truth Social that he has agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran and the proposal by Pakistan, stating that Iran will immediately open the Strait of Hormuz and work on finalizing a peace agreement. Later on the same day, Abbas Araghchi announced that Iran had agreed to the conditions. Iran claimed victory, asserting that it had forced the U.S. to accept its 10-point plan, which includes lifting all sanctions on Iran and withdrawing all U.S. forces from all bases in the region.

Trump said the Iranian 10 point proposal was a "workable basis on which to negotiate."

Israel has also agreed to the temporary ceasefire. According to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the ceasefire includes all fronts of the war, including Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Sharif's inclusion of Lebanon, asserting that the ceasefire "does not include Lebanon." Hezbollah said that it halted attacks on Israel and on Israeli soldiers in Lebanon. A few hours later Israel launched the strongest wave of attacks on Lebanon since the start of the war. In response, Iranian media later said that Iran paused Hormuz traffic over Israeli attacks in Lebanon. The Lebanese government denounced what occured as a war crime and Tasnim News Agency reported the Iranians were considering to leave the ceasefire if further Israeli violations occured on the very first day of it being implemented.

Iran delivered its response to the United States via Pakistan rejecting a temporary ceasefire and listed their own 10-point proposal, which includes a solution to all regional conflicts, lifting of sanctions, reconstruction, and a protocol to re-open the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri-Moghaddam said on X (formerly Twitter) that the talks reached a "critical, sensitive stage".

President Donald Trump said that Vance, Witkoff, and former senior presidential adviser Jared Kushner are talking to intermediaries in Pakistan on ending the war. He also called the Iran proposal a "significant step" ahead of his Tuesday deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier on 7 April, Trump warned that "a whole civilization will die tonight" and will "never be brought back" if Iran does not agree to a deal by midnight (GMT). Later during the day, amidst a two-week ceasefire plan by Pakistan, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump was made aware of the plan. Additionally, it was reported by CBS News that Vance would serve as the US interlocutor in the ceasefire talks.

At an 8 April press conference, Trump said the US will work closely with Iran, talking about the tariff, sanctions and relief. In regard to the Iranian Uranium he firmly stated: "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 later added that Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire agreement and that Hezbollah will need to be dealt with: Yeah, they [Lebanon] were not included in the deal . . Because of Hezbollah. They were not included in the deal. That'll get taken care of too. It’s alright". JD Vance on the same day stated that the ceasefire was actually a "fragile truce". Leavitt confirmed Chinese involvement in truce negotiations with Iran.

On 8 April, amidst the deadline set by Trump, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on Trump to extend his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by two weeks. It was also reported by CBS, quoting Pakistani sources, that a ceasefire with Iran was being negotiated by Sharif. Later that day, Prime Minister Sharif announced on social media that "...Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY..." while also lauding both parties for their diplomacy.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the decision to halt the strikes on Iran, but insisted that the ceasefire does not apply to the Lebanon war, contradicting Shehbaz Sharif's announcement. Netanyahu also asserted that the ceasefire was "not the end" of the military campaign against Iran, saying that "it is a stop on the way to achieving all of our objectives," which will be achieved "either by agreement, or by resuming the fighting."

• France: President Emmanuel Macron said that he remained concerned about the "critical" situation in Lebanon, after Israel continued its strikes and occupation of southern Lebanon after the ceasefire, stating that this "cannot be a long-term solution." France also looked forward to securing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
• Kuwait: Kuwait's foreign ministry urged Iran and its "proxies, including factions, militias, and armed groups loyal to it" to cease all hostilities against Gulf Arab states.
• Qatar: Qatar's foreign ministry considered the ceasefire "an initial step toward de-escalation" and hoped Iran would "cease all hostile acts and practices that undermine regional stability."
• Russia: Russia welcomed the ceasefire and expressed hope that the United States would be able to resume peace negotiations in the Russo-Ukrainian war.
• Spain: Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said that "the momentary relief cannot make us forget the chaos, the destruction, and the lives lost," adding that Spain "will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket."
• United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the ceasefire and said it would "bring a moment of relief to the region and the world."
• European Union: President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the ceasefire as "it brings much-needed de-escalation."
• United Nations: Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the ceasefire and called on all parties to comply with their obligations under international law and abide by the terms of the ceasefire to achieve a lasting peace in the region.

Hours after stating that Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire, despite Pakistani and Iranian authorities stating it was, Israel continued airstrikes across southern Lebanon, the southern suburbs of Beirut and the eastern Beqaa Valley in what was dubbed "Operation Eternal Darkness". In the span of just 10 minutes, 100 aistrikes were launched in Lebanon by Israel during the operation (10 every minute), targeting Hezbollah assets including headquarters, intelligence centers, missile infrastructure, sites related to the Radwan Force and aerial and naval units. Even following the initial strikes, strikes continued to be heard in Lebanon throughout the day, with a new significant barrage being reported at around 22:30 local time. Reports of strikes nearby Tehran and Isfahan were reported. An Israeli drone was allegedly shot down in the vicinity of the city of Lar.

On 9 April 2026, strikes in Lebanon by Israel continued.

In Iran, the Lavan Oil Refinery, located on Lavan Island was struck in the early hours of 8 April 2026, at around 10 a.m.; a fire ignited. The Iranian authorities denounced the event and stated that it was an act of "cowardice" by the "enemies". Israel denied being involved in the attack. The debris of a drone shot down by Iranian forces killed a 7-year old child and injured another six members of the child's family in the town of Shishtar in Khuzestan province.

The Gulf states, including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Iraq and Saudi Arabia reported intercepting missiles throughout the span of 8 April 2026, with a fire starting in Abu Dhabi’s Habshan gas complex and on an important Saudi pipeline being directly hit by a drone. Since 8 a.m. Arabia Standard Time (UTC+03:00). Kuwait faced 28 Iranian drone attacks and the UAE had faced, 35 drone attacks, causing extensive damage. Later in the day Qatar also confirmed they had intercepted 7 missiles and drones. Iranian state television confirmed the attacks, reporting they were carried out in response to the bombing of Iranian oil facilities. Iranian-allied groups in Iraq hit a diplomatic support centre at the Baghdad International Airport during the ceasefire, prompting the US embassy to warn its citizens in the region against further possible attacks and to avoid air travel.

In the early hours of 9 April 2026 Hezbollah claimed a missilistic attack against Northern Israel, stating attacks would continue up until Israel stopped striking Lebanese territories regardless of the ceasefire.

On 8 April 2026, Iran accused the United States of violating the ceasefire.

• Pakistan in the 2026 Iran war