A fragile pause in hostilities faces mounting pressure as disputes over shipping restrictions and Lebanon operations complicate upcoming negotiations.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
U.S. President Donald Trump said April 8 that American military assets will remain positioned in and around Iran until a negotiated agreement is fully implemented, warning that operations could resume if terms are not honored.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said all U.S. ships, aircraft, personnel and weaponry “will remain in place in, and around, Iran, until such time as the real agreement reached is fully complied with.” He added, “If for any reason it is not, which is highly unlikely, then the ‘Shootin’ Starts,’ bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before.”
The comments followed a ceasefire announced April 7, under which the United States agreed to suspend attacks for two weeks contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz to unrestricted maritime traffic. The strategic waterway is a critical global energy corridor through which a significant share of the world’s oil supply transits.
Despite the agreement, early developments have raised concerns about compliance. Analysts and mediators report that Iran has limited vessel traffic through the strait, allowing only a small number of ships to pass daily compared to pre-conflict volumes. Tehran has also been accused of imposing transit fees on vessels, with payments reportedly arranged in alternative currencies.
Such measures have drawn scrutiny from international observers, who argue that charging for passage through a natural strait conflicts with established maritime norms guaranteeing freedom of navigation. Energy markets have reacted cautiously, with shipping companies delaying normal operations amid uncertainty.
The ceasefire’s durability is also being tested by continued military activity in Lebanon. A report by the The Soufan Center on April 9 described the agreement as “on the verge of collapse,” citing Israeli strikes across Lebanese territory as a major point of contention.
The Israel Defense Forces has stated that its operations against Hezbollah are not covered under the ceasefire. Israeli officials, including the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said the agreement does not extend to Lebanon. Israeli authorities have continued targeting Hezbollah positions, including strikes reported to have caused casualties in southern Lebanon.
U.S. officials have echoed that interpretation. Vice President JD Vance said the exclusion of Lebanon from the ceasefire stems from a “legitimate misunderstanding,” stating, “We never made that promise. We never indicated that was going to be the case.”
However, Iranian and Pakistani officials have taken a different view. Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the agreement called for “an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon.” Similarly, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the truce applied “everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere.”
The disagreement over scope has added urgency to planned diplomatic talks. Pakistan is preparing to host U.S. and Iranian delegations in Islamabad on April 11, with Vice President Vance expected to lead the American side. Pakistani authorities have implemented extensive security measures in the capital, including road closures and restricted access to key government zones.
Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the delegations would be treated as “special guests” under a comprehensive security plan. The government has also temporarily closed schools and offices in Islamabad to reduce congestion during the talks.
Tensions inside Pakistan have also surfaced amid the broader conflict. Demonstrations in support of Iran have occurred, with at least 22 people reported killed during clashes near the U.S. consulate on March 1.
Meanwhile, U.S. defense officials signaled continued readiness for escalation. War Secretary Pete Hegseth said American forces would remain deployed to ensure compliance. “We’re not going anywhere,” Hegseth said. “We’re going to make sure Iran complies with this ceasefire and then, ultimately, comes to the table and makes a deal.”
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reinforced that position, stating, “A cease-fire is a pause, and the joint force remains ready—if ordered or called upon—to resume combat operations with the same speed and precision as we’ve demonstrated over the last 38 days.”
European officials have also expressed concern about the ongoing strikes in Lebanon. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Israeli actions risk destabilizing the ceasefire, while French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for Lebanon to be included within the agreement’s scope.
As negotiations approach, both diplomatic and military signals indicate uncertainty about whether the ceasefire can transition into a broader settlement. With maritime restrictions still in place and disagreements over operational boundaries unresolved, the coming talks in Islamabad are expected to play a decisive role in determining whether the pause in hostilities can be sustained or whether the conflict will escalate further.