Ceasefire, negotiations, and open navigation: the latest developments in Iran’s fighting on the eve of the “final deadline”

Right as the last deadline set by U.S. President Trump for Iran was approaching, Iran’s fighting scene saw new developments: On the 8th, Pakistan announced that Iran, the United States, and the two countries’ allies had agreed to an immediate ceasefire across all areas, including Lebanon, with “immediate effect.” On the 8th, Iran issued a statement saying that Iran would hold two-week political talks with the United States in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan; the Strait of Hormuz would achieve safe navigation within two weeks. On the same day, Iran also released the main contents of 10 ceasefire terms.

Comprehensive Ceasefire, Immediate Effect

In the early morning of the 8th, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz posted on social media announcing that Iran, the United States, and the two countries’ allies had agreed to an immediate ceasefire across all areas, including Lebanon, with “immediate effect.”

Shehbaz said he welcomed further talks between the U.S. and Iranian delegations on April 10 in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, aimed at reaching a final agreement to resolve all disputes. He hopes the “Islamabad talks” can achieve lasting peace.

Iran Sends a Talks Message

In the early hours of the 8th, Iranian Foreign Minister Aragchi, on behalf of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, announced that the Strait of Hormuz would achieve safe navigation within two weeks.

In a message posted on the 8th, the Secretariat of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said that Iran would hold two-week political talks with the United States in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, “to confirm the victory results achieved on the ground in combat.”

Previously, according to Iranian media on the 8th, Trump said, “We have received Iran’s 10-point proposal, and we believe this plan is a feasible basis for negotiations.”

The report also said that Trump stated, “Almost all past issues of disagreement between the U.S. and Iran have reached agreement, but these two weeks will allow the agreement to be finalized and take effect.”

On the 8th, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council issued a statement, publishing the main contents of 10 ceasefire terms to be submitted to the United States via Pakistan.

These contents include: controlled passage through the Strait of Hormuz, coordinated with Iran’s armed forces; the war against all resistance forces in the region must be ended; U.S. combat forces withdraw from all bases and deployment points in this area; formulating a security passage agreement for the Strait of Hormuz to ensure Iran’s leading position; providing full compensation for all losses suffered by Iran based on estimates; lifting all primary and secondary sanctions and rescinding relevant resolutions of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the UN Security Council; unfreezing all frozen overseas assets and properties of Iran; and ultimately adopting a binding UN Security Council resolution approving all the above terms.

The statement said that the approval of the Security Council resolution would make all these terms binding international law, “bringing Iran major diplomatic victory,” and Pakistan has informed Iran that the U.S. side accepts the above principles as the basis for negotiations.

The U.S. and Israel Agree to a Two-Week Ceasefire

On the evening of the 7th, local time, Trump posted on social media saying that he had spoken with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz and Army Chief of Staff Munir, who requested that the U.S. temporarily delay airstrikes on Iran. “I agree to pause the bombing and attacks on Iran for two weeks, on the condition that the Islamic Republic of Iran agrees to open the Strait of Hormuz comprehensively, immediately, and safely.” “This will be a two-way ceasefire.”

A senior U.S. White House official on the evening of the 7th told a reporter from CNN that Israel also agreed to pause bombing operations during U.S.-Iran negotiations.

As Trump agreed to pause the bombing and attacks on Iran, market concerns about the Middle East military conflict eased significantly, and light sweet crude oil futures for May delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell by more than 15% as a result.

On the 6th, Trump reiterated that whether the war against Iran will escalate or be approaching an end depends on Iran’s response to his “final deadline” at 20:00 Eastern Time on the 7th. On the 7th, he posted on social media threatening Iran: “Tonight, the entire civilization will perish. I do not want it to happen, but it may happen.”

Pakistan Proposes a Delay of the Final Deadline

Earlier, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz posted on social media saying: “Diplomatic efforts aimed at peacefully ending the current Middle East conflict are being steadily advanced with strength, and it is hoped that tangible success will be achieved in the near term.” To make room for the diplomatic process, he asked Trump to postpone the “final deadline” by two weeks, and also asked “brotherly Iran” to open the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks as a show of goodwill.

Shehbaz also called on all parties to the fighting to cease hostilities for two weeks, so that the war can be finally ended through the diplomatic process, and long-term peace and stability in the Middle East can be maintained.

April 7, Iranians gather in Tehran to mourn Minab Primary School students who were killed in U.S.-Israel airstrikes. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Shadati

Iranian Representative: China and Russia Firmly Stand on the Right Side of History

On the 7th, the UN Security Council voted on a draft resolution related to the Strait of Hormuz proposed by Bahrain. Of the 15 members, 11 voted in favor; Pakistan and Colombia abstained. As permanent members, China and Russia voted against, and the draft was not adopted.

In remarks made by Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Iravani, that day after the vote in the Security Council, he said that China and Russia exercised their veto power over the draft resolution on the Strait of Hormuz, preventing the Security Council from being abused, and firmly stood on the right side of history.

Iravani said: “China and Russia ensured that the Security Council did not become a tool to legitimize acts of aggression; they firmly stood on the right side of history. We would like to express our deep thanks for the responsible actions of both countries, their constructive approach, and the exercise of the veto power that fully conforms with the principles of the UN Charter.”

Iravani also thanked Colombia and Pakistan, saying that by casting abstention votes, the two countries showed concern that if the draft resolution were adopted, it would have serious consequences for regional peace and stability.

Iranian state news agency IRNA, citing Iravani, reported that those who supported the draft resolution would blame Iran for it, but remained silent about the continued war crimes committed by the United States and Israel against Iranian civilians and key infrastructure. “Their position and their votes are double standards. This exposes a huge gap between what they claim regarding their commitment to the UN Charter and international humanitarian law and their actual actions.”

In an explanatory statement on the 7th after the Security Council voted on the draft resolution related to the Strait of Hormuz, China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, said that against the backdrop of this war forced upon Iran very likely escalating further, if the draft resolution were adopted, it would send extremely wrong signals and lead to very serious consequences. (Compiled from reports by Xinhua News Agency reporters)

(Editor: Wen Jing)

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