▲ This photo, released by AFP, shows U.S. President Donald Trump speaking during a press conference at the White House in Washington on April 6, 2026. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) Trump-Iran deadline

(LEAD) Trump agrees to 2-week ceasefire with Iran, 'subject to' Hormuz Strait reopening

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout)

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, April 7 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he agreed to suspend strikes on Iran for two weeks, "subject to" the Islamic Republic agreeing to the "complete" and "immediate" reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route.

Trump made the announcement on social media about an hour and a half before his deadline for reopening the strait was set to expire at 8 p.m. Tuesday. It followed his talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir who called for the ceasefire to allow for diplomacy to continue to end the conflict.

In the run-up to the announcement, tensions spiked as Trump warned the United States will destroy all Iranian power plants and bridges should the regime fail to meet the deadline. Hours before the deadline, he heaped pressure on Iran, warning that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again."

"Based on conversations (with the Pakistani officials), and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks," he wrote on Truth Social.

"This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East," he added.

Trump said that his administration received a 10-point proposal from Iran, which he believes is a "workable basis" on which to negotiate.

"Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated," he said.

"On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this Longterm problem close to resolution."

Following Trump's announcement, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran would halt its strikes if attacks against it stop and that safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible for two weeks, according to Reuters.

The move came as Trump has sought an exit from the war amid growing fears of a prolonged war with Iran and its impact on oil prices and the overall economy ahead of the U.S. midterm elections, slated for November.

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