On the 40th day of the conflict known in Washington as “Epic Fury” and in Tehran as “True Promise 4,” US President Donald Trump and Iran’s Supreme National Security Council accepted a Pakistani-brokered ceasefire. The agreement, reached in early April 2026, establishes a two-week halt to hostilities and includes Iran’s 10-point peace proposal. For the first time since late February, ships are permitted to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz, marking a tentative step toward diplomatic resolution.

The war, which began on February 28, 2026, lacked a United Nations mandate or a clear legal basis under international law. It originated from Israel’s post-October 2023 security doctrine aimed at eliminating perceived threats, with the US providing military capacity. Iran’s response included closing the Strait of Hormuz, triggering severe global energy disruptions and economic losses estimated at $350 billion across the Arab Mashreq. The conflict exposed tensions in Washington’s role as a Gulf security guarantor and left smaller states bearing heavy costs.

Iran’s peace framework calls for guarantees against future attacks, lifting of US sanctions, and reopening of Hormuz under shared management with Oman. Negotiations in Islamabad are expected to determine whether this fragile ceasefire can evolve into a lasting settlement.