Opening of the Strait of Hormuz Marks US-Iran Ceasefire Agreement
The United States (US) and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire. This ceasefire is marked by the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Initially, this ceasefire was announced by US President Donald Trump. In a statement posted on the White House’s X account, as seen on Wednesday (8/4/2026), Trump laid out conditions for Iran. Namely, Iran must fully open the Strait of Hormuz.
“Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir from Pakistan, where they requested that I postpone the deployment of destructive force scheduled for tonight against Iran, and on the condition that Iran agrees to the full, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend bombing and attacks against Iran for a two-week period. This will be a two-way ceasefire!” Trump stated.
According to him, an agreement between the US and Iran is likely to be reached. He also spoke about long-term peace with Iran.
“We are very close to achieving a definitive agreement on long-term peace with Iran and peace in the Middle East. We have received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and we believe it provides a workable basis for negotiation. Almost all the various points of contention from the past have been agreed upon between the United States and Iran, but the two-week period will allow that agreement to be finalised and completed,” Trump explained.
Iran’s Response
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council responded with vigilance. Iran is prepared to retaliate at any time.
“Our finger is on the trigger, and as soon as the enemy makes the slightest mistake, we will respond with full force,” the Iranian Supreme National Security Council’s statement was quoted by Al-Jazeera on Wednesday (8/4).
The Iranian Supreme National Security Council said it would allocate a two-week deadline for negotiations with the US. This deadline can be extended by mutual agreement.
“It is important to maintain full national unity during this period and to continue the victory celebrations with full enthusiasm,” it continued.
The Iranian Supreme National Security Council urged all Iranian society, elites, and political groups to fully support this negotiation process.
Iran Opens the Strait of Hormuz
Iran stated it will open maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks. Iran announced that this pause will be used for talks with the US to end the war.
“For two weeks, a safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible through coordination with the Iranian Armed Forces and taking into account technical limitations,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X, quoted by AFP news agency on Wednesday (8/4).
Those negotiations will be held in Islamabad starting Friday. Meanwhile, the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran stated in a separate statement that the negotiations are scheduled to last two weeks but can be extended by mutual agreement.
“Extended by mutual agreement of the parties,” it said.
Oman to Collect Transit Fees
Iran and Oman plan to collect transit fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week ceasefire. Transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by CNN and Associated Press on Wednesday (8/4), are permitted to be collected by Iran and Oman as part of the US-Iran ceasefire agreement mediated by Pakistan.
Iranian news agency Tasnim also reported on the transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the funds from the levies will be allocated for the reconstruction of Iran, which has been battered by the US and Israel since 28 February.
As for Oman, it is not yet clear how that country will use the funds from the levies in the Strait of Hormuz. Oman’s Foreign Ministry has not yet provided a direct response to the report.
The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway for global oil and gas supplies, has been affected by the ongoing war between the US and Israel against Iran. Before the war, about one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies sailed through that waterway.
Crossing activity in that vital waterway has been effectively restricted since early March. This has caused many countries to bear the brunt of the global disruptions that have increased shipping costs and pushed global oil prices higher.
Since the war began in late February, according to maritime intelligence firm Kpler, crossing activity in the Strait of Hormuz has plummeted by about 95%, with impacts felt across global energy markets. Only a few tanker ships, such as those from Pakistan and India, have managed to pass after negotiations with Iran.
Tehran is reported to have charged up to US$2 million (Rp34 billion) per ship to cross the Strait of Hormuz. It is not yet clear whether any ship operators have paid those fees.