U.S. Lawmakers Voice Relief, Conditions and Criticism Over Trump-Announced Iran Ceasefire

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran on the evening of April 7, 2026, approximately 90 minutes before a self-imposed 8 p.m. ET deadline for escalated U.S. strikes, following his morning social media post threatening that 'a whole civilization will die tonight' if Iran did not meet U.S. demands to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The truce, described by Trump in a social media post as suspending bombing 'subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz,' came after Iran's foreign minister stated that passage would be allowed for two weeks under Iranian military management, with ship movements resuming shortly thereafter, according to reports from NBC News, CNN and BBC on April 8, 2026. Iranian officials described a proposed 10-point plan as a 'workable basis,' including potential sanctions relief and allowance for domestic uranium enrichment, per Iranian media cited in Al Jazeera on April 8, 2026; Trump administration officials have not confirmed acceptance of these terms.

The conflict began on February 28, 2026, with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear sites, missile facilities and proxy infrastructure, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day, as reported across outlets including The New York Times, Al Jazeera and The Guardian. A U.S. strike that day also hit a girls' school in Minab, killing more than 170 people, mostly children; U.S. officials claimed faulty intelligence led to an unintentional hit near a military compound, per CBS News and The Guardian reports, while Iranian sources disputed this as deliberate. Iran responded with drone and missile attacks on Israel and regional targets, and closed the Strait of Hormuz — through which 20% of global oil transits — sinking a tugboat and damaging 16 vessels, resulting in 12 seafarers killed or missing, according to BBC and Wikipedia timelines on the 2026 crisis.

Escalation continued through March, with Iran deploying drones, boats and mines in the strait around March 22-31, restricting shipping amid U.S. strikes, per PBS NewsHour and DW.com analyses. A Senate resolution by Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to limit war powers failed 47-53, as noted in The New York Times. Congressional recess proceeded as scheduled from March 27 to April 13, 2026, per House calendars, overlapping a partial DHS government shutdown since February unrelated to the war.

Lawmakers from both parties expressed relief at de-escalation. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) stated late April 7, 'I’m glad Trump backed off his threat to wipe out a whole civilization and is searching for an offramp from his ridiculous bluster,' per The New York Times. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called the behavior 'unhinged, unpresidential and unconscionable' in a CNN interview, adding Americans oppose the 'reckless war of choice' without plan or exit strategy, and demanding House reconvene for a war powers resolution, as reported in The Guardian.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said the truce 'changes nothing,' accusing Trump of threatening 'genocide' and launching war without congressional authorization, in statements to The New York Times, Al Jazeera and The Guardian. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), top Democrat on Senate Foreign Relations, welcomed de-escalation after 'over a month of war without clear purpose' but expressed concern U.S. actions incentivized Iran's nuclear pursuit, per The New York Times. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) called allowing Iranian strait control a 'history-changing win' for Tehran amid 'stunning incompetence,' on X, per Al Jazeera. Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) voiced relief but stressed accountability for the 'illegal war,' per Al Jazeera.

Republicans largely praised the move. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) reposted Trump's announcement without comment, per The New York Times. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) appreciated diplomatic efforts but stressed caution, noting Iran attacked the strait post-war and must not resume uranium enrichment or retain 900 pounds of highly enriched uranium — a figure unverified by IAEA monitors — while hoping to end Iran's 'reign of terror' through diplomacy, in X posts cited across outlets. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) called it a 'strong first step toward holding Iran accountable,' per The New York Times and The Guardian. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) hailed Trump's 'peace through strength,' per The New York Times.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) urged critics to stop 'pearl-clutching,' saying Trump speaks 'in terms of POWER' adversaries understand, per The Guardian. Earlier GOP critics like Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) had questioned civilization-wipe threats, per The New York Times. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described it as a 'decisive military victory,' per topic summary, though not detailed in provided articles. Far-right figures like Laura Loomer predicted failure on X, calling it no win, per Al Jazeera; Mark Levin trusted Trump's instincts but said the enemy persists.

Pakistan reportedly mediated the last-minute intervention leading to the announcement, per The Guardian. Oil prices slid and stocks surged post-announcement, per Al Jazeera and CNBC. Democrats like dozens in the House, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, had called for impeachment or 25th Amendment invocation over threats targeting civilian infrastructure, deemed potential war crimes by unnamed legal scholars in The Guardian — a characterization disputed by Trump allies. No Republicans have denied the ceasefire terms as reported, though Graham outlined conditions like U.S. control of uranium.