menu_open Columnists
We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

5 Unanswered Questions on the U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire

16 0
08.04.2026

Get audio access with any FP subscription. Subscribe Now ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER? LOGIN

Get audio access with any FP subscription.

ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER? LOGIN

The United States and Iran suddenly announced a two-week cease-fire on Tuesday, and there are myriad open questions about what happens next. Israel has also agreed to the truce, though it reportedly did so reluctantly.

Both Washington and Tehran have claimed victory, but it’s too early to declare this war over with so many major issues unresolved—and missiles and drones still flying across the region even after the truce was announced. Several Gulf states reported Iranian attacks on Wednesday, and Israel launched major strikes in Lebanon.

The United States and Iran suddenly announced a two-week cease-fire on Tuesday, and there are myriad open questions about what happens next. Israel has also agreed to the truce, though it reportedly did so reluctantly.

Both Washington and Tehran have claimed victory, but it’s too early to declare this war over with so many major issues unresolved—and missiles and drones still flying across the region even after the truce was announced. Several Gulf states reported Iranian attacks on Wednesday, and Israel launched major strikes in Lebanon.

The United States and Iran are set to begin negotiations in Islamabad on Saturday, according to the White House, with Vice President J.D. Vance leading the Washington delegation along with envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Trump on Tuesday said a 10-point peace plan put forward by Iran would provide a “workable basis” for the talks, though what is included in that plan is unclear. Iran has publicly released several versions of the 10-point plan, all of which include a number of elements that would appear to be nonstarters for Washington and seemingly don’t jibe with central aspects of a 15-point proposal put forward by the United States last month.

But Trump on Wednesday suggested that he is working off a different set of points than the ones Iran has made public. “There is only one group of meaningful ‘POINTS’ that are acceptable to the United States, and we will be discussing them behind closed doors during these Negotiations. These are the POINTS that are the basis on which we agreed to a CEASEFIRE,” Trump........

© Foreign Policy