WASHINGTON (April 9, 2026) – After more than a month of conflict in the Middle East, the United States and Iran agreed to a two week ceasefire, reached less than two hours before President Trump’s deadline. The agreement was made on the condition that Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway where a fifth of the world’s oil flows. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said that if attacks against Iran stop, Iranian operations will stop as well.
The ceasefire was mediated by Pakistan’s prime minister and its military chief. Iran had also submitted a 10‑point proposal, which the U.S. considers “a workable basis on which to negotiate,” according to Trump. During the ceasefire, Iran’s military will coordinate safe passage for vessels going through the Strait of Hormuz.
For further analysis on these developments, please consider Sina Azodi, the Director of the Middle East Studies (MES) and Assistant Professor of Middle East Politics, at the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs. Azodi is an expert in international relations of the Middle East, Iranian Foreign Policy, U.S.-Iranian Relations, Nuclear non-proliferation, Iran’s nuclear program and Iranian politics. Azodi can discuss the threats of rising tensions between Iran and Israel.
To schedule an interview, please contact Nadia Payne at nadia [dot] payne
gwu [dot] edu (nadia[dot]payne[at]gwu[dot]edu) or GW media at gwmediagwu [dot] edu (gwmedia[at]gwu[dot]edu).
-GW-