Pakistan brokers US-Iran Hormuz ceasefire

Donald Trump has suspended military strikes against Iran, agreeing to a two-week US-Iran ceasefire heavily mediated by Pakistan. The agreement, struck barely an hour before a threatened bombing campaign was set to expire, requires Tehran to safely reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The Supreme National Security Council of Iran confirmed its acceptance of the truce, with bilateral negotiations scheduled to begin in Islamabad on Friday.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir led the diplomatic intervention, with Sharif requesting the strait open as a “goodwill gesture". Sharif stated that diplomatic efforts are “progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in the near future.” He also confirmed the ceasefire extends to Israeli and Hezbollah forces operating in Lebanon.

Trump had previously set a deadline of 8:00 pm Washington time to destroy Iranian power plants and bridges. In a previous statement, he warned that “a whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.” Pope Leo XIV characterised the threats against the Iranian population as “truly unacceptable".

Announcing the suspension on his Truth Social platform, Trump noted he spoke to the leaders of Pakistan, who “requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran". He stated the suspension was subject to the “COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING” of the strait. Trump added that the United States had “exceeded all military objectives” and was near a definitive agreement for "long-term peace with Iran and peace in the Middle East".

Trump wrote that Iran presented a “workable” 10-point peace plan, providing “a workable basis on which to negotiate.” He added that “almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the agreement to be finalised and consummated.” In a subsequent telephone call with AFP, Trump confirmed Chinese involvement ahead of his scheduled visit to Beijing, stating, “I hear yes” when asked if China helped.

The breakthrough triggered an immediate response in global energy markets, easing political pressure on the United States administration. The West Texas Intermediate contract for May delivery fell over 16% to $94.47 per barrel. The international benchmark Brent crude for June delivery lost 15%, settling at $92.21 per barrel.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that passage through the shipping lane would be permitted under Iranian military management for the duration of the truce. Iran’s broader demands for a permanent resolution include the withdrawal of United States combat forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions, and the release of frozen assets. State media published photographs purporting to show groups of Iranians forming human chains to protect power plants.

Prior to the ceasefire, the United States and Israel conducted extensive airstrikes targeting a petrochemical site in Shiraz and military facilities on Kharg Island. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed attacks on railways and bridges, stating they were “used by the Revolutionary Guards". A university student in Iran, Metanat, who lost a classmate in an earlier attack, told AFP she felt “terrified and so should everyone else in the country", adding that while some think the ultimatums “are a joke", the reality is that “death is not a joke".

The Israeli military offered a rare statement of regret after acknowledging it damaged a synagogue in Tehran while targeting a senior Iranian commander. Regional hostilities also saw Saudi Arabia intercept seven Iranian ballistic missiles and four drones, while Iran fired on Israel. Missile alerts continued across the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait even as the truce was announced.

At the United Nations Security Council, Russia and China vetoed a diluted resolution regarding the reopening of the strait. Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium remains buried at enrichment sites, an issue central to the initial conflict. Since the war began, reported casualties include more than 1,900 people in Iran and 1,500 in Lebanon. The conflict has also resulted in the deaths of 23 people in Israel, 13 United States service members, and three Bangladeshi expatriates residing in Gulf Arab states.