He said the United States will work closely with Iran, which has undergone "regime change", and will be talking about tariff and sanctions relief with Tehran.

"We are, and will be, talking Tariff and Sanctions relief with Iran," Trump said in a social media post. Trump said there would be no enrichment of uranium and said many of the 15 points in the US plan proposed to Iran have been agreed to. - with Agencies

Shippers seek clarity on Strait of Hormuz reopening

April 8, 2026 8:45 pm

Shippers said on Wednesday they needed more clarity on the terms of the US-Iran ceasefire before resuming transit through the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran issued fresh warnings about any vessels attempting to sail through the waterway. The six-week conflict had brought traffic through the strait - a chokepoint for about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments - close to a standstill, pushing global energy prices sharply higher. Iran said it would offer safe passage in coordination with its armed forces, though its coastguards warned on Wednesday that any ship attempting to sail without permissions would be "targeted and destroyed".

Energy crisis stemming from Iran conflict will not be short-lived, EU says

April 8, 2026 6:16 pm

The energy crisis caused by the Iran conflict will not be short-lived, an EU Commission spokesperson said on Wednesday. EU Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen told reporters that around 8.5% of the bloc's LNG, 7% of its oil and 40% of its jet fuel and diesel travels through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has mostly blocked access to during the war. "What we can already foresee is that this crisis will not be short-lived," she said. "It's a very, very important choke point, obviously."

Iran's IRGC say they targeted oil facilities including in Saudi Yanbu

April 8, 2026 6:15 pm

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday that they attacked overnight energy complexes and oil transfer lines linked to the US and Israel, including oil facilities in Saudi Arabia's port city Yanbu, state media reported.

Iranian President confirms Tehran's participation in peace talks in Islamabad: PM Shehbaz Sharif

April 8, 2026 6:14 pm

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has confirmed Tehran's participation in Pakistan-facilitated peace talks with the US in Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday. Shehbaz said he held a "warm and substantive" telephone conversation with President Pezeshkian, hours after the US and Iran agreed on a conditional two-week ceasefire that included the opening of the Strait of Hormuz for shipping. "I conveyed my deep appreciation for the wisdom and sagacity of the Iranian leadership in accepting Pakistan's offer to host peace talks in Islamabad later this week to work jointly for the return of peace to the region," he said. "President Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran's participation in the upcoming negotiations and expressed appreciation for Pakistan's efforts, while conveying his best wishes for the people of Pakistan," Shehbaz added.

Trump says US will work closely with Iran, discuss sanctions

April 8, 2026 5:43 pm

The United States will work closely with Iran, which has undergone "regime change," and will be talking about tariff and sanctions relief with Tehran, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday after declaring a two-week ceasefire.

Israel contradicts 'mediator' Pakistan, says Lebanon not part of ceasefire deal

April 8, 2026 4:47 pm

A fresh divergence emerged over the scope of the newly announced ceasefire between the United States and Iran, with Israel on Wednesday asserting that Lebanon is not part of the arrangement, contradicting claims made by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. In a statement, the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel said it supported US President Donald Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks, subject to Tehran immediately reopening key maritime routes and halting attacks on the US, Israel and other countries in the region.

Vance says Trump is 'impatient' about progress on Iran

April 8, 2026 4:38 pm

US President Donald Trump is "impatient" about making progress toward ending the Iran war and has instructed his negotiating team to engage the Iranians in good faith, Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday. Speaking at an event in Budapest during his trip to Hungary, Vance said a deal was possible if Iran negotiated sincerely, but cautioned that while some parts of the Iranian system were approaching the talks constructively, others were not. He described the situation as a "fragile truce." "He's impatient. He's impatient to make progress. He has told us to negotiate in good faith, and I think if they negotiate in good faith, we will be able to find a deal. But that's a big if, and ultimately, it's up to the Iranians how they negotiate. I hope they make the right decision," Vance said.

Over 15 countries planning to facilitate Strait of Hormuz access, says Macron

April 8, 2026 1:53 pm

Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron said about 15 countries were planning to facilitate the resumption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil supply usually flows, after a ceasefire between the United States and Iran was announced. "About 15 countries are currently mobilised and are participating in the planning, under France's leadership, to enable the implementation of this strictly defensive mission in coordination with Iran to facilitate the resumption of traffic," Macron said on Wednesday, speaking at the start of his meeting on defence with advisers and members of his cabinet. Reuters

China, Russia veto UN resolution on protecting Hormuz shipping

April 8, 2026 1:49 pm

China and Russia on Tuesday vetoed a UN resolution encouraging states to coordinate efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, calling the measure biased against Iran, while Washington's ambassador to the world body called on "responsible nations" to join the US. in securing the waterway. The 15-member Security Council voted 11 in favor of the resolution presented by Bahrain, with two against - China and Russia - and two abstentions.

Israel says US wants removal of Iran's nuclear material, missile threat

April 8, 2026 1:47 pm

Israel was told the US is committed to removing Iran's nuclear material and missile threat in upcoming negotiations, a senior Israeli official said. Senior Trump officials told Israel that the US "will firmly insist on removing the nuclear material, stopping enrichment, eliminating the threat of ballistic missiles, and more" during talks expected to take place in the next two weeks, the official said. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss closed diplomatic conversations, described the conditions as "shared goals of Israel and the US".

UN Secretary General welcomes US-Iran ceasefire

April 8, 2026 12:51 pm

New York: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire by the United States and Iran. ANI

Oil dives below $100, stocks jump after two-week ceasefire agreed

April 8, 2026 12:49 pm

Singapore: Oil prices slid, stocks and bonds surged while the safe-haven dollar was knocked back on Wednesday, as a two-week Middle East ceasefire brought some relief to marketson hopes for a resumption of oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters

Israel issues new evacuation order for Tyre in southern Lebanon, saying it will strike

April 8, 2026 12:46 pm

Israel's military issued repeated urgent warnings to residents of the city of Tyre on Wednesday to evacuate their homes immediately and move north of the Zahrani River, saying it will strike the area. This comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the US-Iran ceasefire announced earlier on Wednesday does not include Lebanon. Reuters

South Korea to push for the release of ships in the Strait of Hormuz

April 8, 2026 12:43 pm

Seoul: South Korea's presidential Blue House said on Wednesday that the government would do its best to ensure the country's ships can pass through the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible based on the conditions created under a two-week ceasefire agreed between the US and Iran, local media reported. Reuters

Hezbollah pauses attacks under US-Iran ceasefire

April 8, 2026 12:41 pm

Beirut: Lebanon's Hezbollah halted fire on northern Israel and on Israeli troops in Lebanon in the early hours of Wednesday as part of the US-Iran ceasefire announced earlier, three Lebanese sources close to the group told Reuters. Israel has continued its strikes on southern Lebanon and issued a new evacuation order for one southern city, indicating it would strike there soon, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the two-week Iran-US ceasefire would not include Lebanon. Iran-backed Hezbollah is expected to issue a statement outlining its formal position on the ceasefire and on Netanyahu's assertion that Lebanon is not included, the three Lebanese sources said. Reuters

UK's Starmer heads to the Gulf to discuss Strait of Hormuz reopening

April 8, 2026 12:40 pm

London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will travel to the Gulf on Wednesday to hold talks with regional leaders to try to ensure the Strait of Hormuz opens permanently after a US-Iran ceasefire, his office said. "I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world," Starmer said in a statement. Reuters

Varying reports of ceasefire's terms

April 8, 2026 11:13 am

Tehran: Trump initially said had Iran proposed a "workable" 10-point plan that could help end the war he launched with Israel on Feb. 28. But he later called the plan fraudulent without elaborating. Trump has said ending Iran's nuclear program entirely was a key point of the war. AP

How Trump went from threatening Iran's annihilation to agreeing to a 2-week ceasefire with Tehran

April 8, 2026 11:06 am

Washington: President Donald Trump over the course of a day went from threatening Iran with "annihilation" to proclaiming that the battered Islamic Republic's leadership had presented a "workable" plan that led him to agree to a 14-day ceasefire that he expects to pave the way to end the nearly six-week-old war. The dramatic shift in tenor came as intermediaries, led by Pakistan, worked feverishly to head off a further escalation of the conflict. Even China - Iran's biggest trading partner and the United States' most significant economic competitor - quietly pulled strings to find a pathway toward a ceasefire, according to two officials briefed on the matter who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. AP

Indonesia welcomes Iran ceasefire, calls for all parties to respect sovereignty, territorial integrity

April 8, 2026 11:04 am

Jakarta: Indonesia welcomes the ceasefire in the Iran war and calls on all parties to respect sovereignty, territorial integrity and diplomacy, Yvonne Mewengkang, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said on Wednesday. Reuters

US will help with traffic buildup at Strait of Hormuz: Trump

April 8, 2026 11:01 am

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States will help with the buildup of shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters

Trump says moment could mark new 'Golden Age' for Mideast

April 8, 2026 11:00 am

Washington: US President Donald Trump in a social media post declared the ceasefire agreement a "big day for World Peace" and that the US "will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz." AP

China, Hong Kong stocks rally as US-Iran ceasefire boosts sentiment

April 8, 2026 10:58 am

Hong Kong: China and Hong Kong stocks jumped on Wednesday as a US ceasefire deal with Iran lifted risk appetite. China's blue-chip CSI300 Index advanced 2.8 per cent by the lunch break, while the Shanghai Composite Index gained 1.9 per cent. Hong Kong benchmark Hang Seng jumped 2.8 per cent. Hong Kong-listed tech giants surged 4.4 per cent. Reuters

Abrupt turnaround

April 8, 2026 10:55 am

Washington/Dubai/Cairo: Trump's announcement capped a whirlwind day that was dominated by his threat to destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran unless Tehran reopened the strait. That unnerved world leaders, rattled global markets and drew widespread condemnation, including criticism from the head of the United Nations and Pope Leo. Some international law experts have said attacking civilian infrastructure indiscriminately could constitute a war crime. Reuters

Shehbaz Sharif's X post gaffe goes viral, posts draft message welcoming ceasefire before editing it

April 8, 2026 10:52 am

Islamabad: A social media post by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has triggered widespread debate after an apparent "draft" message was mistakenly published on X and later edited. The incident quickly drew attention online, with users scrutinising the edit history and questioning the circumstances behind the initial post. ANI

Airstrikes hit Iran, which fires on Saudi Arabia, Israel

April 8, 2026 9:04 am

Tehran: Even as the ceasefire was announced, missile alerts continued in the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait early Wednesday, hinting at the chaos surrounding the diplomatic moves. A gas processing facility in Abu Dhabi was ablaze after incoming Iranian fire, officials said. Israel was continuing its attacks on Iran, said an Israeli military official who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with military regulations. Iran also kept up fire on Israel. The US military has halted all offensive operations against Iran but continues defensive actions, said an official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive military operations. AP

Iran, Oman to collect shipping fees in Strait of Hormuz

April 8, 2026 8:49 am

Tehran: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said passage through the strait would be allowed under Iranian military management. It wasn't immediately clear whether that meant Iran would completely loosen its chokehold on the waterway. The plan allows for both Iran and Oman to charge fees on ships transiting through the strait, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations they were directly involved in. The official said Iran would use the money it raised for reconstruction. In addition to control of the strait, Iran's demands for ending the war include withdrawal of US combat forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions and the release of its frozen assets. AP

US, Iran agree to 2-week ceasefire, Strait of Hormuz to reopen

April 8, 2026 8:49 am

Tehran: US President Donald Trump pulled back on his threats to launch devastating strikes on Iran late Tuesday, swerving to deescalate the war less than two hours before the deadline he set for Tehran to capitulate to a deal. Trump said he was holding off on his threatened attacks on Iranian bridges and power plants, as the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire that includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Supreme National Security Council said it has accepted the ceasefire and that it would negotiate with the United States in Islamabad beginning Friday. Neither Iran nor the United States said when the ceasefire would begin, and attacks took place in Israel, Iran and across the Gulf region early Wednesday. Israel has also agreed to the ceasefire, according to a White House official who was not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. AP

Israel backs US ceasefire with Iran but that deal doesn't cover fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon: Netanyahu

April 8, 2026 8:37 am

Tel Aviv: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel backed the US ceasefire with Iran but that the deal doesn't cover fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Netanyahu's office said in the statement Wednesday that Israel supported US President Donald Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks subject to Iran immediately opening the Strait of Hormuz and stopping all attacks on the US Israel and countries in the region. His office said Israel also supports US efforts to ensure Iran no longer poses a nuclear or missile threat. AP

Chinese officials encouraged Iran to find path to ceasefire with US: sources

April 8, 2026 8:20 am

Beijing: China, which is Tehran's biggest trade partner, spoke with the Iranians to get them on board to look for a path toward a ceasefire in war with the US, sources said. Chinese officials were in touch with Iranian officials as the negotiations were evolving, two officials who were not authorised to comment publicly spoke on condition of anonymity. Beijing primarily had been working with intermediaries, including Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt, as it tried to use its influence, said one of the officials. AP

Pakistan invites US, Iran for talks in Islamabad

April 8, 2026 8:19 am

Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday invited the US and Iran for talks in Islamabad on Friday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a social media post announced that the US and Iran, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire amid the ongoing West Asia conflict. "With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere, effective immediately," he said. Sharif said Pakistan has invited delegations from both countries to Islamabad on April 10 for face-to-face talks aimed at reaching a conclusive agreement "to settle all disputes". PTI

Oil prices sink, US stock futures jump as US, Iran agree to 2-week ceasefire

April 8, 2026 8:19 am

New York: Oil prices plunged below USD 100 a barrel and Asia markets and US stock futures jumped after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire that includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. AP

Iran includes 'acceptance of enrichment' in Farsi version of its ceasefire plan

April 8, 2026 8:14 am

Tehran: Iran in the Farsi-language version of its 10-point ceasefire plan included the phrase "acceptance of enrichment" for its nuclear programme, something that was missing in English versions shared by Iranian diplomats to journalists. It wasn't immediately clear why that term was missing. However, US President Donald Trump had said ending Iran's nuclear programme entirely was a key point of the war. Trump, after Iran issued its 10-point plan, had described it as fraudulent, without elaborating. AP

Protesters in Iran express outrage at US, Israel after ceasefire agreement reached

April 8, 2026 7:57 am

Tehran: Pro-government demonstrators in the streets of Iran's capital Wednesday morning after the ceasefire had been announced screamed: "Death to America, death to Israel, death to compromisers!" Organisers tried at a point to calm demonstrators, but they continued the chants. They also burned American and Israeli flags in the street. AP

Iraq's Islamic Resistance says it is suspending operations for 2 weeks

April 8, 2026 7:50 am

Baghdad: The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed factions, said it would suspend its operations in Iraq and across the region for two weeks, according to a statement issued on Wednesday, in a move that follows announcements of a two-week suspension of hostilities between the United States and Iran. Reuters