World Responds to US-Iran Ceasefire, Calls It This

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The international community has given varied responses following the United States (US) and Iran's surprise agreement on a two-week ceasefire, with both sides claiming victory in the conflict that has triggered global tensions.

Citing an AFP report on Wednesday (08/04/2026), the agreement has sparked a wave of optimism alongside warnings from various national leaders, who hope for a full restoration of stability in the Middle East. Here is a list of countries that have reacted to this:

South Korea

The South Korean government has welcomed this ceasefire step with great hope that the agreement will pave the way for security in international shipping lanes in the region, which is crucial for global energy trade.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry, in its official statement, expressed hope that further negotiations between Washington and Tehran can result in permanent peace for the Middle East region.

"The Government of South Korea hopes that negotiations between the two parties will be successfully concluded and that peace and stability in the Middle East will be restored at an early stage," read the official statement from the South Korean Foreign Ministry.

In addition, the Land of the Ginseng also highlighted the importance of security in the Strait of Hormuz for their ships passing through to avoid threats from the armed conflict that had heated up.

"The Government of South Korea hopes that free and safe navigation for all ships, including those of South Korea, through the Strait of Hormuz will soon be ensured, and will continue to engage in communication and consultation with relevant countries for this purpose," added the ministry.

United Nations (UN)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the announcement of this battle pause, but he also issued a stern warning that all parties must not stop here and should immediately design long-term peace.

Through his spokesperson, Guterres emphasised that this two-week period must be maximised to halt further bloodshed in the region.

"The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement of the two-week ceasefire by the United States and Iran," stated Guterres' spokesperson in an official statement.

Guterres also urged all actors involved in the conflict to adhere to international law and respect the points of the agreement that have been made for the creation of comprehensive peace.

"He urges all parties in the current conflict in the Middle East to comply with their obligations under international law and adhere to the ceasefire provisions in order to pave the way for lasting and comprehensive peace in the region," emphasised the spokesperson.

Australia

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also given serious attention to the potential global economic impacts that could arise if the war resumes after the ceasefire period ends.

The Australian side warned that the longer this conflict persists, the greater the humanitarian costs and shocks that will be felt by global economic stability.

"Australia wants to see the ceasefire enforced and a resolution to the conflict," said the Prime Minister Albanese's office in a statement.

Albanese's side also continues to call for the protection of civilians who are the most affected victims of the tensions between the US and Iran.

"We continue to call on all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and protect civilian lives," added the statement from Albanese's office.

New Zealand

In line with Australia, New Zealand views this ceasefire as encouraging news, but Foreign Minister Winston Peters reminded that much work still lies ahead.

The New Zealand government underlined that this two-week agreement is only a very early beginning and still requires much stronger commitment to truly end the war.

"Although this is encouraging news, there is still important work to be done in the coming days to secure a lasting ceasefire," said Peters' spokesperson.

Peters also affirmed his country's commitment to continue supporting international diplomatic efforts to end violence in the Middle East.

"In the coming days and weeks, New Zealand will support all efforts to achieve a permanent and enduring end to this conflict," explained the spokesperson.

Japan

Japan, as the world's fourth-largest economy that heavily relies on crude oil supplies, emphasised that concrete steps must be taken immediately to ease the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.

As the world's fifth-largest oil importer where 70 percent of its supplies come from that region before the war broke out, Japan has a strong interest in the security of those maritime routes.

"The most important thing is that concrete steps will be taken to de-escalate the situation, including ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz," stated Japanese government spokesperson Minoru Kihara.

Kihara also stated that diplomacy is the only way out that must be finalised immediately to prevent any further disruptions to global energy logistics routes.

"We hope that a final agreement will be reached through diplomacy in the near future," said Kihara.

Iraq

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry expressed its support for this US-Iran step but asked both sides to engage in more serious dialogue that addresses the root causes.

Iraq hopes this positive step will not just be a temporary pause, but rather a momentum to rebuild trust that has been destroyed by the long conflict.

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