US and Iran agree to last-minute ceasefire
United States and Iran reach last-minute ceasefire agreement on Tuesday night, stepping back from the brink of further escalation after Trump had warned to destroy Iran’s ‘whole civilization’
8 April 2026, 7:10am
Karl Azzopardi
Karl Azzopardi
3 min read
US President Donald Trump (Photo: White House)
The United States and Iran reached a last-minute ceasefire agreement on Tuesday night, stepping back from the brink of further escalation.
The deal comes after US President Donald Trump warned he would destroy Iran’s “whole civilisation” if it failed to guarantee safe passage for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump announced the deal in a social media post just hours after Pakistan, acting as a mediator, urged him to step back from an 8pm Eastern deadline imposed on Tehran. Islamabad proposed a two-week cease-fire during which Iran would allow oil, gas and other vessels to pass safely through the strategically vital waterway.
Shortly after the announcement, a US official confirmed American military strikes on Iran had ceased. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Tehran would “cease its defensive operation” and allow safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, provided movements were co-ordinated with Iranian forces.
Israel said it supported Trump’s decision, with the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating it backed a pause in hostilities on the condition that the strait reopened immediately and that Iran halted attacks on the United States, Israel and other countries in the region.
However, the Israeli statement said the cease-fire did not extend to Lebanon, contradicting earlier remarks by Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif.
Malta welcomes news of ceasefire
In a tweet on Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Robert Abela welcomed news of the ceasefire, describing it as a much-needed moment of relief.
He stated that Malta remains committed to diplomacy and will continue to speak in favour of peace and dialogue.
The ceasefire reached overnight is an encouraging development, offering people in the region a much-needed moment of relief and renewed hope.
— Robert Abela (@RobertAbela_MT) April 8, 2026
Malta remains firmly committed to diplomacy and will continue to advocate for peace, dialogue, and stability at every opportunity. - RA
Hope for de-escalation
The agreement offers a temporary reprieve in a conflict that began in late February, when the United States and Israel launched an intense military campaign against Iran. The pause is intended to create space for negotiations on a longer-term resolution.
According to three Iranian officials, Tehran accepted Pakistan’s proposal following intense diplomatic efforts and last-minute intervention by China, a key ally. Iran’s national security council confirmed the deal, portraying it as a victory and suggesting Washington had effectively accepted Iranian terms.
Financial markets reacted swiftly to the news. Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, fell to $93 a barrel. Asian markets opened higher on Wednesday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 rising 4% and South Korea’s Kospi gaining more than 5%. Futures on the S&P 500 climbed over 2%.
Earlier in the day, it had been unclear whether any diplomatic breakthrough would materialise. At one point, Iran halted indirect negotiations after Trump threatened strikes on power plants, bridges and other critical infrastructure — actions that could constitute a war crime under international law.
“A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” Trump said on Tuesday, adding he still hoped “maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen”.
In the hours leading up to the deadline, US and Israeli forces intensified their attacks on Iran, while Pakistan was reported to be stepping up mediation efforts in a bid to secure a cease-fire.
Karl Azzopardi is Online Editor and an IGM press awards (Human Stories) winner of 2019