On Wednesday morning, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, announced that the United States and Iran, along with their respective allies, had reached an agreement for an “immediate ceasefire … effective immediately.”
Sharif indicated that this ceasefire, facilitated through Pakistani mediation, also encompasses Lebanon and Israel, despite reports from the Lebanese Health Ministry stating that eight individuals had died due to an Israeli strike in the southern city of Sidon.
He confirmed that he has invited delegations from both the US and Iran to Islamabad on Friday to “further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes.”
Sharif commended both parties for their “remarkable wisdom and understanding,” highlighting their constructive engagement in promoting peace and stability.
Missile alerts were triggered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) shortly after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire agreement involving the US, Israel, and Iran.
The UAE reported that its air defense systems were “engaging with missile and drone threats from Iran.”
Earlier, Israel also indicated that it had detected an incoming wave of Iranian missiles.
The New York Times cited an unnamed US official stating that American offensive military operations against Iran had ceased in line with the agreement, although another official informed the Associated Press (AP) that defensive measures were still ongoing.
The first round of negotiations between the United States and Iran is scheduled for Friday in Islamabad, according to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, which cautioned that this does not signify the end of hostilities.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran would cease its attacks on neighboring US-allied nations if attacks against it were halted, while also insisting on Iranian military oversight of transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Supreme Security Council reportedly remarked: “Our fingers are on the trigger. Any slight mistake by the enemy will be met with a full-force response.”
Reports from the United States, Israel, and Iran indicate that both Iran and Israel have accepted Pakistan’s proposal for a two-week ceasefire.
The New York Times quoted Iranian officials asserting that the ceasefire received approval from the country’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
In Iran, state media have claimed that US President Trump has “accepted Iran’s conditions to end the war,” framing it as a “humiliating retreat from anti-Iran rhetoric.”
According to a report from the Associated Press, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has agreed to a two-week ceasefire in the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, US broadcaster CNN reported that a senior White House official stated: “Israel has agreed to also suspend its bombing campaign while negotiations continue.”
In Israel, public broadcaster Kan reported that the country is “committed” to the ceasefire.
Early Wednesday, the Israeli military announced that Iran had launched missiles toward Israel, just moments after US President Donald Trump declared a two-week postponement of a significant attack on Iranian infrastructure.
“[We] identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) communicated via its official Telegram channel. “Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat.”
US President Donald Trump agreed to halt attacks on Iran for two weeks, contingent upon Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
This announcement came less than two hours before a deadline he had set, which he claimed would have resulted in the loss of “a whole civilization.”
In a social media message, Trump stated that following discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, he “[agreed] to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.”
He emphasized that this was “subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz.”
Trump also noted that Iran had submitted a ten-point proposal, which he believes serves as “a workable basis on which to negotiate.”
He asserted that consensus had been achieved on “almost all of the various points of past contention,” although he did not provide further details.
Hello and welcome to our coverage of the ongoing conflict in Iran and the Middle East on Wednesday, April 8.
US President Donald Trump has declared a two-week ceasefire following the receipt of a 10-point proposal from Iran.
Previously, Trump had established a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning of significant military action should the deadline pass without compliance.
