Iran Rejects Ceasefire as Trump Sets April 7 Deadline

Iran has rejected a proposed 45-day ceasefire, stating it will only accept a permanent end to the war, as U.S. President Donald Trump approaches a final deadline for a deal on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

President Trump has set a deadline of 8 p.m. EDT on April 7, 2026, for Tehran to reach an agreement. The U.S. Administration has demanded that Iran open the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping traffic, warning that failure to do so will result in a barrage of attacks on Iranian infrastructure.

The U.S. President has significantly expanded his threats, moving beyond civilian targets to include all power plants and bridges within the Islamic Republic.

The entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night

Donald Trump

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that military pressure is escalating, stating that April 7, 2026, would see the largest volume of strikes since day one of the conflict, with further increases expected the following day.

Israeli Military Escalation

Israel has increased pressure on Iran through targeted strikes on critical energy infrastructure. Israeli forces attacked a major petrochemical plant and a major gas field, which serves as Iran’s largest source of domestic energy.

Israeli operations resulted in the death of the intelligence chief for the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

These developments follow a missile strike by Iran on April 6, 2026, which hit a residential building in Haifa, Israel. Israeli rescue teams were reported searching through rubble for missing persons the following day.

Iran’s Diplomatic Response

Tehran has conveyed a 10-point plan to end the hostilities through Pakistan, which is serving as a key mediator. According to the state-run IRNA news agency, the proposal includes terms regarding the lifting of sanctions and reconstruction efforts.

Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour, the head of Iran’s diplomatic mission in Cairo, told The Associated Press that Iran only accepts a conclusion to the war if there are guarantees that it won’t be attacked again.

Ferdousi Pour further stated that Iran no longer trusts the Trump administration, citing two instances where the U.S. Bombed the Islamic Republic during previous rounds of diplomatic talks.

Efforts to Secure the Strait of Hormuz

A central point of the current standoff is the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which one-fifth of the world’s oil is shipped during peacetime. Iran’s control over the strait has caused significant volatility in the global economy.

Despite the public threats and the rejection of the 45-day ceasefire, a regional official involved in the negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that diplomatic efforts have not collapsed.

Officials from Iran and Oman are reportedly working on a mechanism to administer the strait to ensure the flow of shipping traffic.