US, Iran agree on ‘immediate ceasefire’, two-week peace talks

By Nash Villena, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
April 8, 2026

WASHINGTON — Less than an hour before a self-imposed deadline, U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to suspend planned military strikes against Iran on Tuesday evening, following a request from Pakistani mediators for a two-week ceasefire to initiate peace talks.

“Subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,” President Trump stated via his Truth Social platform.

In a corresponding announcement on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Iran will guarantee the safe passage of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz as part of an agreement to engage in negotiations with the U.S. to resolve the conflict.

“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,” Araghchi said.

This de-escalation follows intense mediation efforts led by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, who have been actively working to broker a resolution to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Sharif has invited both delegations to Islamabad this Friday, April 10, to begin formal negotiations toward a permanent peace agreement.