US President Donald Trump has announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, a move welcomed by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. However, the council cautioned that Iran’s forces remain on alert, stating that their hands are still on the trigger and any hostile action will be met with full force.

The statement followed weeks of conflict that began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day. The Iranian council expressed gratitude to the nation for its sacrifices, claiming that most of Iran’s war objectives have been achieved and that the enemy has been pushed into historic weakness and lasting defeat.

Tehran confirmed that bilateral talks between the United States and Iran will begin on April 10 in Islamabad and continue for two weeks. Iran described the ceasefire as the enemy’s surrender on the battlefield and said it would celebrate a historic victory if the talks lead to a lasting political outcome.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform TruthSocial that the United States will assist in managing traffic congestion in the Strait of Hormuz. In his post, Trump stated that the U.S. would be present with all necessary supplies to ensure smooth operations and described the situation as a potential 'golden age' for the Middle East. He also mentioned that significant profits could be made and that Iran might begin a reconstruction process.

According to an earlier Associated Press report cited by Al Jazeera, under a ceasefire agreement, fees collected from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz would be directed to an Iranian reconstruction fund. Trump did not provide details on how the U.S. role would be implemented or what specific actions would be taken.

The announcement suggests a possible shift in U.S. involvement in the region’s maritime operations, though the scope and timeline of this assistance remain unspecified.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has ordered the country’s armed forces to halt shelling, while emphasizing that the ceasefire does not signify the end of the war. His directive was broadcast on Iran’s state television on April 8, 2026, where he instructed all branches of the military to comply with the order to stop firing.

Tehran clarified that the ceasefire should not be interpreted as a conclusion to the conflict. The Iranian leadership warned that its forces remain ready to respond to any attack from the United States or Israel, stating that their hands remain on the trigger. Following the ceasefire announcement, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council reiterated that any hostile move from the adversary would be met with full force.

The statements underscore Iran’s cautious stance, signaling a temporary pause in active combat operations while maintaining readiness for potential escalation if provoked.

US President Donald Trump has agreed to postpone a previously announced large-scale attack on Iran for at least two weeks. Following his announcement, Iran’s Supreme Security Council welcomed the decision, while the United Nations and several countries expressed support for the temporary ceasefire.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged all parties involved in the Middle East conflict to comply with international law and uphold the ceasefire terms to pave the way for lasting peace. Australia’s Prime Minister’s office said the country hopes the ceasefire continues and leads to a resolution. New Zealand’s Foreign Minister’s office described the development as encouraging but warned that significant work remains to ensure lasting peace. Japan called for concrete steps, including ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Iraq welcomed the ceasefire and urged sustained dialogue between the US and Iran.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced that the US, Iran, and their allies had agreed to a ceasefire effective immediately, including in Lebanon. However, Israel later clarified that Lebanon is not covered by the two-week truce.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that American freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was abducted in Baghdad on March 31, has been released after a week in captivity. The Iran-backed militia group Kataib Hezbollah earlier stated it would release her on the condition that she immediately leave Iraq. Rubio described the release as a reflection of the Trump administration’s commitment to the safety of US citizens worldwide.

He expressed gratitude to Iraqi officials for their assistance in securing Kittleson’s release and said the United States is now working to ensure her safe departure from Iraq. The 49-year-old journalist’s abduction had prompted an Iraqi government response, with security forces pursuing suspects, leading to a vehicle crash and one arrest.

According to the report, the release followed coordination between US and Iraqi authorities, though details of the negotiation process were not disclosed.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the two-week ceasefire announced between the United States and Iran. His spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, confirmed the statement, noting that Guterres urged all parties to adhere strictly to international law and the terms of the ceasefire. The Secretary-General emphasized that the cessation of hostilities could open a path toward sustainable and comprehensive peace in the region.

Guterres further stressed the urgent need to halt conflict to protect civilian lives and reduce humanitarian suffering. Dujarric also confirmed that the Secretary-General’s personal envoy, Jean Arnault, is currently in the region assisting efforts to establish lasting peace.

The announcement reflects the UN’s continued engagement in promoting stability and humanitarian relief amid ongoing tensions between the two nations.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States achieved a 'complete and final victory' in its war with Iran. In an interview with AFP, Trump said the claim followed the signing of a two-week ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran. He described the outcome as 'complete and final victory, one hundred percent,' adding that there could be no question about it. When asked whether he would carry out his earlier threat to destroy Iran’s civilian infrastructure if Tehran violated the agreement, Trump declined to answer, saying only that people would have to wait.

Earlier, after Trump announced a two-week suspension of attacks on Iran, Iran’s Supreme Security Council welcomed the decision in a statement. Israel also agreed to halt its attacks. Following the announcement of the ceasefire, global oil prices dropped by 10 percent, according to CNN.

The developments mark a temporary pause in hostilities, though uncertainty remains about the durability of the truce and future U.S.-Iran relations.

The United States and Israel have launched extensive attacks on Iran’s power plants, bridges, and rail infrastructure after President Donald Trump’s ultimatum for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz neared its deadline. The strikes, which damaged universities, hospitals, and oil facilities, killed at least 16 people across Iran. Washington and Tel Aviv also targeted Kharg Island, a key oil export hub, hitting around 50 sites and causing widespread power outages. Trump warned that Iran faced destruction if it failed to comply, while the White House denied any plan for nuclear strikes.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vowed that any further US attacks would draw responses beyond the Middle East. Tehran has already retaliated by striking American and Israeli-linked assets in the region, with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE reporting intercepted drones and missiles. Pakistan has been mediating between Washington and Tehran, but diplomatic progress remains stalled.

As tensions escalate, both sides appear to be preparing for broader conflict. The US Central Command said it has hit over 13,000 Iranian targets under “Operation Epic Fury,” while Iran continues counterstrikes across the region.

Iran and Oman have been authorized to collect tolls from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz as part of a two-week ceasefire agreement brokered by Pakistan, according to a report by the Associated Press. A regional official cited by the agency said Iran plans to use the revenue for national reconstruction, while Oman’s intended use of the funds remains unclear.

The Strait of Hormuz, previously treated as an international waterway, lies within the territorial waters of both Iran and Oman. Until now, there had been no precedent for imposing tolls on vessels transiting the strait. The new arrangement marks a significant strategic shift in how the two countries manage this critical maritime passage.

Analysts view the decision as a notable development in regional maritime governance, potentially altering navigation and trade dynamics in one of the world’s most vital shipping routes.

Iran has announced the suspension of its defensive military operations following a ceasefire declaration by Donald Trump. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the decision was made as part of a two-week truce agreement mediated by Pakistan. Under this arrangement, both Iran and Oman will be allowed to collect tolls from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Araghchi emphasized that Iran’s armed forces would halt their operations if attacks against the country ceased. He also confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global trade route, would remain open for safe passage over the next two weeks. However, he noted that coordination with Iran’s armed forces and consideration of technical constraints would be required for navigation.

The announcement marks a positive response from Iran amid the ongoing ceasefire process facilitated by Pakistan and the United States, signaling a temporary easing of regional tensions.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the recently declared two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran does not apply to Lebanon. According to an official statement, Israel has agreed to suspend attacks against Iran on certain conditions. These include Iran immediately reopening the Strait of Hormuz and halting all forms of attacks against the United States, Israel, and regional countries.

The statement further clarified that the ceasefire’s scope is limited strictly to Iran and does not extend to Lebanon. It also noted that Israel supports U.S. efforts aimed at preventing Iran from emerging as a future nuclear, missile, or terrorist threat.

The announcement underscores Israel’s continued security concerns in the region and its alignment with U.S. strategic objectives regarding Iran’s military and regional activities.

Iran has agreed to a two-week ceasefire with the United States, according to the country’s National Security Council. The discussions, based on Tehran’s ten-point proposal, are scheduled to begin on Friday in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital. The ceasefire follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that he would suspend attacks on Iran for two weeks and refrain from destroying Iranian civilization.

The agreement, mediated by the Pakistani government, extends beyond the borders of Iran and the United States. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif confirmed that the ceasefire will also apply to Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East, with immediate effect. In a social media message, Sharif welcomed the accord and expressed gratitude to both nations’ leadership, praising their prudence and constructive approach toward peace and stability.

Sharif has formally invited delegations from Iran and the United States to Islamabad on April 10 to begin discussions aimed at reaching a final and comprehensive settlement of all disputes.

The White House has described a two-week ceasefire as both a diplomatic and military success, portraying it as the beginning of a potential long-term peace. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt stated that President Donald Trump and the U.S. military were responsible for achieving the ceasefire. According to her, Trump had anticipated the conflict would last four to six weeks, and within 38 days the United States had met and surpassed its main military objectives.

Levitt added that the success of the U.S. military created maximum strategic pressure, enabling Trump and his team to engage in difficult negotiations that opened a path toward diplomatic resolution and lasting peace. She also claimed that Trump had successfully reopened maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Iran’s National Security Council said it agreed to the two-week ceasefire because it believed nearly all its wartime goals had been achieved. The council announced plans to join talks in Islamabad to consolidate battlefield gains through political dialogue.

At least seven people, including two children, were killed in multiple overnight attacks across Iraq before the United States and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire agreement early Tuesday, according to local authorities. In the southern province of Basra, an airstrike hit a house in the city of Khor al-Zubair, killing three civilians. In Baghdad, a projectile struck a home, causing a fire that killed two people, including an eight-year-old child. In northern Iraq’s Kurdish region, a drone believed to have come from Iran hit a house, killing a couple.

The attacks occurred just hours before Washington and Tehran jointly declared a temporary ceasefire aimed at easing regional tensions. Local officials described the incidents as among the deadliest in recent weeks, underscoring the fragile security situation across Iraq.

The ceasefire announcement is viewed as a significant step toward reducing hostilities in the region, though the immediate impact on ground-level violence remains uncertain.

An Israeli airstrike on the coastal city of Sidon in southern Lebanon killed eight people, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health as reported by Al Jazeera Arabic. The attack took place in a densely populated area of the city, leaving at least 22 others injured. Several of the wounded were taken to local hospitals, and some are reported to be in critical condition.

The report did not specify the exact timing or reason for the airstrike. Lebanese authorities confirmed the casualties and ongoing medical response in Sidon. The incident adds to the continuing tensions in the region, though no further details were provided about the broader context or military objectives behind the strike.

Further updates on the condition of the injured and any official responses from either side were not immediately available from the source.