“There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait — They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
A day earlier, Trump told ABC News he is weighing to set up a “joint venture” with Iran to charge tolls from vessels passing through the crucial waterway through which about 20 percent of global oil is transported, calling it “a beautiful thing.”
He also said on social media on Wednesday that “big money” could be made by the U.S. “helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz.”
Iran demands oil tankers pay a transit toll of 1 U.S. dollar per barrel for passing through the strait, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal on Thursday.
Marine traffic in the strait remained at a trickle. For the first time since the ceasefire was reached on Tuesday, two non-Iranian oil tankers were tracked crossing the strait, The New York Times reported on Thursday, citing ship-tracking firm Kpler.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened Iran to stop charging fees to tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz if the country is doing so.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Thursday that a comprehensive plan has been prepared to ensure foolproof security for all visiting foreign delegates.
The negotiations are expected to bring together senior officials from both countries as part of diplomatic efforts to reach a longer-term settlement after weeks of escalating conflict.
According to Iran’s Students’ News Agency, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf will lead the Tehran delegation for talks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad. The White House confirmed that the U.S. team will include senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with the first round of negotiations expected on Saturday.
Analysts said Pakistan-facilitated talks face cautious optimism, saying that both sides have suffered heavy military, political, and economic losses, creating pressure for a negotiated settlement.
Authorities in Islamabad have introduced sweeping security measures ahead of the talks. Local holidays have been declared in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi to facilitate arrangements. Police, paramilitary troops, and other security agencies are deployed under the Blue Book VVIP protocol, with separate routes designated for the movement of foreign delegations.
Islamabad Police issued a traffic advisory warning commuters of diversions on the Express Highway. Rescue services and hospitals have been placed on high alert. Serena Hotel, a five-star property in the Red Zone, has been reserved exclusively for the delegations, while several entry points to the capital will remain sealed during their stay.
Despite the ceasefire, several contentious issues are expected to dominate the negotiations.
One major point is the future of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor through which a significant portion of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes.
Sanctions relief is another central issue, with Iran seeking the lifting of sanctions imposed on it, which have severely restricted its economy and international financial transactions.
Differences also persist over uranium enrichment. Iran insists on maintaining its program for civilian nuclear energy purposes, while Washington has reiterated that it seeks strict limits on the activity.
To bring both sides to the negotiating table, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar have held consultations with regional leaders and maintained diplomatic contacts with both Tehran and Washington. Analysts said the country’s neutrality, backed by longstanding ties with all stakeholders, gives it unique leverage in promoting dialogue.
Tughral Yamin, retired brigadier and a regional security analyst, described Pakistan’s success in convening the talks as “a remarkable achievement,” noting that bringing two deeply distrustful parties together was once considered improbable. “It demonstrates ambition and a willingness to take risks in pursuit of peace,” he said.
He said the real challenge lies in shaping a mutually acceptable outcome, requiring pragmatism, flexibility, and careful concessions.
Officials and analysts expressed the hope that the talks could mark a critical step toward reducing tensions in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
Security guards stand at a checkpoint outside Constitution Towers as Pakistan gears up to host the US and Iran for peace talks, in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 9, 2026.
“By the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, a ceasefire has been declared in view of the upcoming Orthodox holiday of Easter, from 16:00 on April 11 until the end of the day on April 12, 2026,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
According to the statement, Russia’s Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov have been instructed to cease combat operations along all fronts during this period.
“Troops must be prepared to thwart any possible provocations by the enemy, as well as any aggressive actions,” the Kremlin said, adding that it expects that the Ukrainian side will follow Russia’s lead.
Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Deputy Prime Minister, Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko during their meeting at the Kremlin, in Moscow, Thursday, April 9, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
The agreement, signed in N’Djamena on Wednesday by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, and his Chadian counterpart, Dr. Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul, aims to deepen cooperation in areas of common interest and create a formal framework for enhanced collaboration.
During his visit, Minister Nduhungirehe, who is also a Special Envoy of President Paul Kagame, held an audience with Marshal President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno.
On this occasion, he handed a letter from President Kagame requesting Chad’s support for Rwanda’s nomination of Louise Mushikiwabo for a third term as Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).
Rwanda has officially nominated Mushikiwabo ahead of the 20th Francophonie Summit, scheduled for November in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Having led the international Francophone network since 2019, Mushikiwabo has advanced initiatives promoting language, culture, and cooperation. If re-elected, she would become only the second Secretary-General, after former Senegalese President Abdou Diouf, to serve three terms.
The establishment of the Great Joint Cooperation Commission and the diplomatic engagement surrounding Mushikiwabo’s candidacy highlight Rwanda and Chad’s shared commitment to regional cooperation and international diplomacy.
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, signs the new agreemeent.The agreement signed by Nduhungirehe, and his Chadian counterpart, Dr. Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul, aims to deepen cooperation in areas of common interest and create a formal framework for enhanced collaboration.
He made the remarks on Wednesday, April 8, during the International Conference on Genocide Prevention held at Intare Conference Arena, part of Rwanda’s 32nd commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
“It is with profound honour to be here in Kigali, speaking for the first time since my appointment in September last year,” Beyani said. “Genocide is the most heinous crime against humanity. Its essence is the extermination of people based on their identity.”
Beyani recounted his personal experience during the 1994 genocide. As an academic at the University of Oxford and a trustee at Oxfam, he received early reports of mass killings of Tutsis in Rwanda.
“Oxfam was among the first humanitarian organisations to acknowledge and denounce genocide against Tutsis,” he said.
During a July 1994 visit to Rwanda, he witnessed the aftermath firsthand, describing the sight of victims’ bodies in public spaces in Kigali as an experience that “shocked the core of my conscience as a human being.”
Drawing lessons from the tragedy, Beyani outlined the creation of his office as an early-warning mechanism within the UN, a direct response to the international community’s failure to prevent the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
He emphasised that prevention requires both effective early-warning mechanisms and early action to protect civilians.
“Genocide is deliberately designed to effect mass execution. It takes systematic planning to execute it. It cannot occur without state failure or complicity,” Beyani said. “In 1994, the international community, including the United Nations, failed Rwanda. The early warning signs were there.”
“All these remind us that we must do more to protect people’s lives and reinforce preventive engagements and actions. The commitments to prevent that echo in the halls of international institutions must translate into effective prevention in the spaces where this is most needed. From the onset, we are required to set up not only effective early warning mechanisms, but also early action to save lives.
Beyani warned that rising xenophobia, hate speech, and the erosion of multilateral norms continue to threaten global peace. He called for coordinated efforts between the UN, regional organisations such as the African Union, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, IGAD, the East African Community, ECOWAS, and national institutions, as well as civil society, media, youth, and religious leaders.
“The genocide against the Tutsi started with words — the demonisation of an entire community group. We must put in place concrete measures to address and counter hate speech, because in its worst form, it is an indicator and trigger of the risk of genocide and other atrocious crimes,” he stated.
The conference also highlighted ongoing risks in the Great Lakes region, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Senegalese General Babacar Faye, a former UNAMIR officer, compared the current situation in eastern DR Congo to pre-genocide Rwanda, noting continued ethnic targeting, militia activity, and insufficient international intervention.
Lawyer Innocent Nteziryayo and other experts cited massacres against the Banyamulenge community in DR Congo, tracing a pattern of discrimination and violence that persists decades after the Rwandan genocide. They warned that genocide ideology continues to spread, and that international silence risks repeating past failures.
“Reports are written, but followed by silence,” said Faye. “The international community had information about an imminent genocide, but lacked political will. Genocide does not wait. Impunity is the fertiliser of genocide. Hate speech must be punished.”
Survivors and researchers at the conference emphasised the need to translate lessons from Rwanda into action, ensuring accountability for perpetrators and protection for at-risk communities.
Yolande Mukagasana, a survivor and author, recalled decades of persecution against Tutsi and called out the UN’s inaction.
“The UN existed even in 1972, but it did not act. Today, Tutsi are being killed and persecuted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Urgent action is needed.”
Beyani concluded with a call for sustained global commitment: “As we remember the horrors of 32 years ago, let us redouble our efforts to build resilient societies by guaranteeing fundamental rights and freedoms. The best way to honour the victims and survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is to ensure that no one else endures this most heinous of crimes. This is both a call and an obligation for all of us.”
Chaloka Beyani, United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, made the remarks during the International Conference on Genocide Prevention held at Intare Conference Arena, part of Rwanda’s 32nd commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Both individuals shared a common disdain for the Tutsi, which they publicly demonstrated in speeches, writings, and actions.
On October 17, 1990, Mitterrand chaired a Cabinet meeting in his government, discussing issues related to France, such as trips made by certain leaders to Saudi Arabia, Japan, the plan to extract Uranium from Niger, France’s interests in Madagascar, and other matters.
The subject that took up the majority of the discussion was Rwanda. At that time, the Minister of Security was Pierre Joxe. Mitterrand expressed that the Tutsi were of no concern to him and that, even if they achieved their objectives, the Hutu would once again oppress them.
The minutes of the meeting state: “The President of the Republic emphasised that the purpose of our military mission in Rwanda is solely to protect our citizens [the French].”
“France does not wish to involve itself in the ethnic conflicts occurring within the country. However, there is no interest in seeing a small group of Tutsi overpower the majority Hutu population.”
During the meeting, Mitterrand further stated that even though the Tutsi had endured prolonged oppression, it would ultimately lead to nothing. The Hutu, he predicted, would unite and defeat them.
He remarked, “Even if the rebels prevail, the Hutu of Rwanda and neighbouring countries will soon unite and overthrow the government. We will continue to maintain good relations with the Rwandan government, which has grown closer to France after developing disagreements with Belgium, its former coloniser.”
These statements were made shortly after France deployed troops to Rwanda as part of Operation Noroît, an operation intended to protect French interests.
A report by the Duclert Commission revealed that these French soldiers went beyond their mission by providing training and equipment to the government forces of Habyarimana. The report indicates that, in the years that followed, France was well aware of the killings being perpetrated against the Tutsi but failed to take any action.
The relationship between former French President François Mitterrand and Rwanda’s then-President Juvénal Habyarimana has often been described as akin to that of a father and son, with their close political alliance widely viewed as one of the factors that shaped Rwanda’s path toward the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The long-awaited truce was struck in the nick of time, coming shortly before U.S. President Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to agree to a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, or the “whole civilization will die.”
While the ceasefire has pressed pause on a conflict whose shockwaves have been felt across the globe, experts warn that deep-seated disputes between Washington and Tehran remain unresolved, leaving the prospects for lasting peace far from certain.
Last-ditch breakthrough
The ceasefire was reached amid repeated threats from Trump, which culminated on Tuesday when he warned that Iran’s “whole civilization will die” if Tehran failed to meet his latest deadline for a deal by Tuesday, 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (0000 GMT Wednesday), a statement that drew widespread criticism.
Late Tuesday night, as the world braced for possible U.S. strikes, Trump announced a two-week “double sided ceasefire,” as Tehran agreed to “the complete, immediate and safe opening” of the Strait of Hormuz.
In an interview with the media, Trump hailed the agreement as a “total and complete victory,” adding that Iran’s uranium would be “perfectly taken care of” under the ceasefire deal.
Following Trump’s announcement, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council quickly issued a statement confirming the ceasefire.
Iran has achieved a “great victory” and “forced” the United States to accept its 10-point plan, which includes controlled passage through the Strait of Hormuz and the necessity of ending the war against all elements of the “axis of resistance,” said the statement.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that Iran will cease “defensive operations” if attacks against it stop. Araghchi also promised safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week ceasefire under “coordination” with Iranian armed forces.
For its part, Israel said it supports the temporary truce, noting that Lebanon is excluded from the deal.
Entrenched differences
The ceasefire has, to some extent, revived hopes that negotiations might settle the conflict, but responses from key stakeholders suggest that deep divisions and mutual distrust remain firmly in place.
In the statement confirming the ceasefire, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council stressed that the negotiations will be conducted on Friday in Islamabad “with complete distrust of the American side.”
“Our hands are on the trigger, and as soon as the slightest mistake by the enemy is made, it will be responded to with full force,” the security council warned.
Hamad Alhosani, a researcher at TRENDS Research and Advisory in the United Arab Emirates, said that the statements from the United States and Iran also reveal “a wide chasm.”
On the Strait of Hormuz, Washington demands “complete, immediate, and safe opening,” while Tehran insists on “continued Iranian control,” Alhosani said. On the nuclear program, Iran demands acceptance of its enrichment rights, while the United States has told Israel it is committed to removing all of Iran’s nuclear material, he added.
Similarly, Mohamed Benaya, an expert on Iranian and Gulf affairs at Al-Azhar University in Egypt, said, “The main points of difference are structural, the nuclear issues and the levels of enrichment and timelines.”
“There is a problem of trust between the two sides, driven by both ideological concepts,” Benaya added. “Bridging these gaps will be difficult without phased, reciprocal concessions.”
Analysts also noted that the disagreements between Washington and Tehran are not new: They stem from decades of political, ideological and strategic rivalry, and are unlikely to be resolved through either war or negotiations alone.
Akram Atallah, a Palestinian political analyst, said differences over Iran’s nuclear program, concerns about its regional influence, and the weight of economic sanctions have left fundamental disputes between Tehran and Washington unresolved.
“The current agreement should be understood primarily as an attempt to contain escalation rather than resolve the underlying conflict. It opens a diplomatic window, but the structural issues between the two sides remain unresolved,” Atallah said.
Dim prospects
Given these entrenched divisions, experts said the prospects for lasting peace in the Middle East remain shrouded in uncertainty.
“Over the next two weeks, we may see limited confidence-building steps, but the talks will likely focus on preventing further escalation rather than resolving all underlying disputes,” Oytun Orhan, a senior researcher at the Ankara-based Center for Middle Eastern Studies, told Xinhua.
Salah Ali Salah, a project officer at the Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies, said the ceasefire reflects a reluctant compromise by both sides rather than a genuine consensus.
“What we are witnessing is a forced and temporary truce between two sides that have exhausted their escalation options without achieving decisive outcomes,” he said. “With many critical issues still unresolved, the chances of renewed tensions outweigh the prospects for a real diplomatic breakthrough in the coming weeks.”
Jumaa Mohammed, a politics professor at Iraq’s Tikrit University, also voiced doubts about the prospects for lasting peace.
Both sides have lost enough to realize that a quick return to war would be more costly, but they do not yet trust each other enough to make major concessions, Mohammed said.
Mohammed Zakaria Aboudahab, a professor of public law and political science at Morocco’s Mohammed V University, also warned that the ceasefire is no guarantee of lasting peace.
“The fundamental drivers of conflict – Iran’s nuclear status, the reconfiguration of Gulf security architecture, and the persistent risk of escalation within the Israel-Hezbollah-Iran triangle – remain unresolved,” Aboudahab said. “What we are witnessing is more likely an intermission than a conclusion.”
A man attends a rally in Tehran, Iran, April 8, 2026. After some 40 days of deadly clashes, the United States and Iran on Wednesday reached a two-week ceasefire
AFC/M23 is currently holding thousands of Congolese government troops, most of whom were captured during fighting in late January 2025, when the group seized the city of Goma and surrounding border areas.
On March 8, 2026, AFC/M23 announced plans to hand over 5,000 detainees to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for transfer to the capital, Kinshasa. The group said the soldiers are being held at the Rumangabo military base and that their release is intended to support ongoing peace efforts and facilitate dialogue with the DRC government.
RFI reported on April 8, 2026, that the ICRC is prepared to transport the soldiers to Kinshasa, but that Congolese authorities have not yet authorized their reception. According to the report, the hesitation is linked to concerns that some of the soldiers could have been compromised or may pose a threat, although no official government statement has been issued.
The report also noted that AFC/M23 has been encouraging the DRC government to receive the soldiers, while a source close to President Félix Tshisekedi said the government was taking time to consider the offer.
Earlier, on February 20, 2026, AFC/M23 political coordinator Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo announced the release of 230 soldiers captured in Goma, though it remains unclear whether they were subsequently transferred to Kinshasa by the ICRC.
In a related development, in April 2025, 1,359 Congolese soldiers and police officers who had taken refuge at United Nations peacekeeping bases (MONUSCO) on the outskirts of Goma were repatriated to Kinshasa following negotiations involving the ICRC and AFC/M23.
Many of the soldiers captured by AFC/M23 are being held at the Rumangabo military base.
The message was delivered during the Kwibuka32 commemoration held in Seoul on April 7, 2026, where diplomats, government officials, members of the Rwandan community, and friends of Rwanda gathered under the theme “Remember – Unite – Renew.”
The event began with a Walk to Remember, honoring the victims, supporting survivors, and paying tribute to those who stopped the Genocide and contributed to Rwanda’s liberation.
Participants reflected on the historical reality of the Genocide against the Tutsi, which was planned and executed, leading to the killing of more than one million innocent Tutsi in just 100 days, from April to July 1994.
Representing the Government of the Republic of Korea, Chung Kwangyong, Director-General for African and Middle Eastern Affairs, noted that Rwanda’s journey of recovery and transformation resonates with the Korean people, who have also overcome the devastation of war to rebuild their nation.
He commended Rwanda’s resilience and highlighted its emergence as a hub of innovation and a model for sustainable development.
Speaking at the event, Chafik Rachadi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, emphasized the importance of vigilance against hate speech and division, calling for continued global commitment to human dignity and the prevention of atrocities.
Rwanda’s Ambassador to South Korea, Bakuramutsa Nkubito stressed that remembrance must remain active and grounded in truth.
He highlighted that ‘genocide denial and distortion, particularly in the digital age, constitute a continuation of genocide ideology and must be firmly confronted’.
He further underscored Rwanda’s continued commitment to unity, reconciliation, and resilience, noting that these values have been central to the country’s rebuilding process over the past three decades.
Thirty-two years after the Genocide, concerns remain over the persistence of denial and distortion, increasingly spread through digital platforms and transnational networks, a trend the Embassy warned must be actively countered.
The commemoration also highlighted Rwanda’s progress in rebuilding a united nation founded on the principle of Ndi Umunyarwanda, reflecting inclusive governance, justice, and reconciliation.
The Embassy called on the international community to uphold the truth, combat genocide denial and hate speech, and ensure accountability by bringing genocide fugitives to justice in line with international obligations.
Rwanda’s Ambassador to South Korea, Bakuramutsa Nkubito stressed that remembrance must remain active and grounded in truth. Chung Kwangyong, Director-General for African and Middle Eastern Affairs, noted that Rwanda’s journey of recovery and transformation resonates with the Korean people.Chafik Rachadi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, emphasized the importance of vigilance against hate speech and division.A Walk to Remember preceded commemoration talks.
American diplomat James Swan has officially assumed leadership of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
António Guterres appointed Swan as his Special Representative for MONUSCO early March 2026, succeeding Bintou Keita of Guinea, who left office on November 30, 2025.
Upon his arrival in Kinshasa on April 7, Swan underscored that the crisis in eastern DRC cannot be resolved through military means, pointing instead to dialogue, regional engagement, and the implementation of existing agreements as essential pathways to progress.
He reaffirmed that the protection of civilians remains MONUSCO’s central responsibility.
Swan further indicated that the mission will continue to support efforts aimed at reducing violence and creating conditions conducive to sustainable peace in the eastern region.
Swan assumes his duties at a time when MONUSCO has been tasked with overseeing the implementation of a ceasefire in Uvira territory, South Kivu Province, following the Doha negotiations between the Congolese government and the AFC/M23 coalition.
The United Nations Security Council has maintained that MONUSCO’s core mandate includes protecting civilians, preventing and responding to attacks on displacement camps, supporting the reintegration of former combatants, and monitoring compliance with sanctions related to arms flows.
In addition, the mission’s Force Intervention Brigade has been restructured to enhance its effectiveness in restoring stability in eastern DRC, with a strengthened mandate to conduct operations against armed groups independently or in coordination with national forces.
MONUSCO staff members welcomed Swan upon arrival The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Swan as his Special Representative for the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) early March 2026. Upon his arrival in Kinshasa on April 7, Swan underscored that the crisis in eastern DRC cannot be resolved through military means.
