Ceasefire

Mediators want both sides to agree to suspend hostilities but Tehran warns peace talks ‘incompatible with threats’Middle East crisis – live updatesProposals for an immediate ceasefire have been circulated to Washington and Tehran in an attempt to halt the five-week-old war and stave off an extraordinary threat issued by Donald Trump to bomb Iran’s power plants.Mediators from Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey want both sides to agree to suspend hostilities and reopen the strait of Hormuz, to be followed by a period of detailed negotiations intended to reach a more complete peace agreement. Continue reading...

• US stock futures edged higher on April 5, 2026, with S&P 500 futures up 0.2%, as investors reacted to reports of a push for a potential ceasefire in the Iran war. • Brent crude oil dipped to near $108 a barrel, the dollar weakened, and 10-year Treasury yields hovered around 4.36%. • Trading opened shadowed by Trump escalation threats, with several European and Asian markets closed for Easter holiday.

• The UN Security Council meeting on April 5, 2026, failed to pass a Ukraine ceasefire resolution after the US vetoed amendments proposed by Russia demanding NATO withdrawal from Eastern Europe. • US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield cited 'unacceptable preconditions' in the Russian text, while 12 members supported a neutral monitoring force of 5,000 troops. • This impasse highlights deepening geopolitical divides, prolonging humanitarian suffering with over 1.2 million displaced since January and risking broader NATO-Russia confrontation.

• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with EU foreign ministers in Brussels on April 4, 2026, to discuss a potential ceasefire framework for the Russia-Ukraine war amid escalating frontline clashes. • The proposal includes Russian troop withdrawal from Donbas regions captured since 2022 and $50 billion in reconstruction aid funded by frozen Russian assets, as outlined in leaked diplomatic cables. • Diplomats emphasized the plan's role in preventing NATO direct involvement, with EU High Representative Kaja Kallas stating, 'This is our best chance to freeze the conflict without capitulation.'

• China has publicly criticized Iran amid the Persian Gulf conflict, urging an immediate ceasefire and protection of shipping lanes as the Strait of Hormuz closure disrupts global energy markets. • Beijing condemned Iran's attacks on Gulf states while aligning temporarily with Europe on ceasefire efforts, though it also warned the U.S. against strikes violating international law. • This shift highlights changing diplomatic dynamics, creating a brief convergence between China and Brussels amid severe energy market shocks and stalled UN votes on intervention.

• Russia and Egypt have jointly called for an immediate ceasefire in the Iran conflict, urging all parties to return to diplomatic negotiations as tensions escalate across the Gulf region. • The call for de-escalation comes amid ongoing military strikes, Iranian retaliation threats, and regional instability affecting global oil markets and international security. • Diplomatic efforts by non-Western powers reflect growing international concern about the conflict's potential to expand and destabilize the broader Middle East.

• Following April 1 shelling that killed 12 Indian soldiers and 8 Pakistani troops, US-mediated talks led to a 72-hour ceasefire along the Line of Control. • Details include troop pullbacks by 2 km and no-fly zone for drones, verified by US satellites. • The de-escalation prevents nuclear escalation fears, with markets in Mumbai and Karachi rising 1.8%.