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.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that international ships will be able to travel safely through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz for the next two weeks. The statement, issued on behalf of Iran’s National Security Council, emphasized that the safe passage would be ensured under specific coordination with Iran’s armed forces.

According to the announcement, the Iranian armed forces will suspend their defensive operations during this period, provided that no attacks are carried out against Iran. The statement also noted that vessels must coordinate with Iranian authorities and consider certain technical limitations while navigating the strait.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes, and the decision signals a temporary easing of tensions in the region, contingent on the maintenance of calm and mutual restraint.

Iran has described the newly reached ceasefire agreement with the United States as a diplomatic victory. According to Iranian state television and the Supreme National Security Council, U.S. President Donald Trump accepted Iran’s ten-point set of demands, prompting Tehran to celebrate the deal as a major achievement.

The Supreme National Security Council issued a statement calling the agreement a victory for Iran. Reports indicate that Tehran had agreed to the ceasefire before Trump’s formal announcement, strengthening Iran’s strategic position in the negotiations. The key points of Iran’s demands include exclusive control over the Strait of Hormuz, full withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Middle East, an end to attacks on allied groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, removal of all sanctions, release of frozen assets, and compensation for war-related damages.

Iran also demanded that all agreed terms be ratified as a binding United Nations Security Council resolution to prevent future violations, according to information cited from Al Jazeera.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two-week suspension of planned attacks on Iran, a move welcomed by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. The decision came shortly before the deadline for a potential strike, with Trump posting on Truth Social that the pause would last 15 days. The ceasefire, also supported by Israel, led to a 10 percent drop in global oil prices.

The temporary truce followed Pakistan’s mediation, including an 11-hour proposal from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iran’s 10-point counteroffer. Both the United States and Iran agreed to meet in Islamabad within two weeks to discuss a permanent ceasefire. Iran’s Mehr News Agency confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei approved the agreement, describing it as a moral victory for Iran.

Trump conditioned the ceasefire on Iran immediately reopening the Strait of Hormuz for international shipping. Pakistan’s leadership played a key role in brokering the deal, and further diplomatic talks are planned in Islamabad to pursue a lasting peace accord.

Pakistan has intensified its diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East. Following discussions with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held telephone conversations with the foreign ministers of Turkey and Egypt, according to a statement released on April 8, 2026.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said Ishaq Dar briefed his Turkish and Egyptian counterparts on Pakistan’s position regarding the current situation in the Middle East and its ongoing initiatives to promote peace. The ministry’s statement added that the latest progress in Pakistan’s dialogue and diplomatic activities aimed at maintaining regional peace and stability was shared with both ministers.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, indicates that Pakistan continues to pursue active engagement with key regional partners to support dialogue and de-escalation in the Middle East.

Professor Sultan Barakat of Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s Public Policy department has warned that Israel may be planning a limited strategic nuclear strike. In an interview with Al Jazeera, he said Israel could attempt such an attack to demonstrate itself as a nuclear power, interpreting recent language from both Israel and the United States as indicative of this possibility.

Barakat linked U.S. President Donald Trump’s use of phrases like “great surprise” and “civilization will be destroyed” to the potential for such an operation. He noted that although Israel has never officially acknowledged possessing nuclear weapons, it is widely believed to have nuclear capability. According to Barakat, Israel previously used its nuclear capacity mainly as a deterrent, but that approach has failed.

He added that Israeli policymakers might now seek to reveal their nuclear status through a controlled strike designed to limit radiation spread and destruction. The White House, however, has denied any U.S. plan to use nuclear weapons against Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump has postponed a planned military strike on Iran for two weeks, just hours after threatening to destroy Iranian civilization. The announcement came shortly before the original deadline for the attack. Trump stated that the temporary suspension would remain in effect only if Iran immediately and fully ensured safe passage for ships through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

According to the report, Trump made this decision following an 11-hour special proposal from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said he agreed to the two-week suspension at the request of Sharif and Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir. He described the move as a “mutual ceasefire” between both sides.

The condition attached to the suspension underscores the importance of the Strait of Hormuz for international maritime trade. The situation remains tense as the two-week period begins, with the ceasefire dependent on Iran’s compliance.

Israel is facing heightened tension as its military anticipates a possible large-scale missile attack from Iran. According to reports, Iranian missile strikes have already continued throughout the day, targeting several Israeli cities. The central region, home to nearly half of Israel’s population, has reportedly experienced the most intense attacks.

Unrest has also been reported in the southern part of the country. At least two incidents were noted in which Iranian missiles were fired toward Beersheba, Dimona, and surrounding areas. The situation remains volatile, with Israeli defense forces on high alert for further escalation.

The ongoing attacks have raised fears of a broader conflict in the region, as both sides appear to be preparing for potential military escalation in the coming hours.

An airstrike has hit the headquarters of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) north of Baghdad, according to a PMF source cited by Al Jazeera. The report, published on April 8, 2026, did not specify who carried out the attack or whether there were any casualties.

The PMF, a coalition of armed groups operating under the Iraqi government’s authority, has been a significant force in Iraq’s security landscape. The source report focused solely on confirming the strike, without providing further operational or political details.

No additional information was available regarding the extent of the damage or potential responses from Iraqi authorities or the PMF leadership.