US-Iran Ceasefire Deal: Global Reactions and Upcoming Peace Talks

The United States and Iran reached a two-week ceasefire agreement on April 7, 2026, following a month and a half of escalating conflict in the Middle East. The deal was announced by President Donald Trump via a Truth Social post, coming less than two hours before a 20:00 EDT deadline on April 7, after which the US president had threatened to launch massive strikes against Iranian energy and transportation infrastructure.

The provisional agreement is contingent on Iran suspending hostilities and fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping traffic. The Strait is a critical waterway through which one-fifth of the world’s oil flows. While the Iranian regime stated it would reopen the waterway, it maintained that it still exerts dominion over the area.

The White House confirmed that Israel also agreed to the ceasefire. President Trump described the outcome as a total and complete victory in an interview with the AFP news agency on April 7, though he did not specify if he would still carry out prior threats to destroy civilian infrastructure should Tehran renege on the agreement.

Iran’s 10-Point Peace Proposal

As part of the negotiations, Iran submitted a 10-point proposal which President Trump described as a workable basis on which to negotiate. According to Iranian state media, the regime will only accept a final conclusion to the war once details are finalized in accordance with this plan.

The proposal, delivered to the White House via Pakistani intermediaries, includes several conditions that the US has previously rejected:

• The lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions on Iran.
• Continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz.
• The withdrawal of the US military from the Middle East.
• An end to attacks on Iran and its allies.
• The release of frozen Iranian assets.
• A United Nations Security Council resolution to make any resulting deal binding.
• The acceptance of enrichment for Iran’s nuclear program, a detail included in the Farsi version of the plan.

Diplomatic Mediation and International Response

The ceasefire was mediated by the prime minister and the military chief of Pakistan. Reports also indicate that China exerted influence over Tehran to help facilitate the agreement. The two nations are now scheduled to begin formal talks to bridge remaining differences in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Friday, April 10, 2026.

The global community welcomed the truce, with calls for a lasting peace in the region. In Tehran, Iranians gathered at Enqelab Square on April 8, 2026, following the announcement of the ceasefire.

Economic and Market Impact

The announcement triggered an immediate reaction in global markets, which had been impacted by historic oil disruptions during the conflict. In after-hours trading, the price of a barrel of oil dropped below the $100 mark for the first time in several days, and US stock futures saw a significant increase.

The temporary reprieve follows a period of extreme rhetoric. On April 6, 2026, President Trump spoke about the war from the White House, and by Tuesday morning, April 7, he had threatened that a whole civilisation will die tonight if a deal was not reached, claiming the civilization would never to be brought back again.

The current two-week window is intended to allow the US and Iran to engage in negotiations to reach a permanent settlement, though analysts suggest the process is likely to remain volatile.