The ceasefire between the United States and Iran began on the evening of April 7. By Wednesday morning, both sides had accused the other of violations. Here is what happened in the first 18 hours.

Hour 0-4 (Evening, April 7): Iran's Supreme National Security Council formally accepted the two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan. [1] Large-scale military operations ceased on both sides. The Strait of Hormuz status remained ambiguous — the White House said it must stay open; Iran said reopening depends on negotiations. [2]

Hour 4-8: New attacks were reported on American Gulf allies, including explosions targeting infrastructure in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. [3] Iran denied responsibility. The IRGC claimed shipping through Hormuz had stopped despite the ceasefire, contradicting Iranian diplomatic statements.

Hour 8-12: Israel continued striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, which is not covered by the ceasefire terms. [4] A senior Iranian source warned Tehran would exit the ceasefire if Israeli strikes on Lebanon continued. Turkey's National Security Council condemned the Lebanon strikes as threatening the agreement's survival.

Hour 12-18: Confusion deepened over the Hormuz toll system. Reports confirmed tankers were transiting but paying tolls in yuan or cryptocurrency. [5] Traffic remained a fraction of pre-war normal. Iran accused the US of violating the ceasefire through continued surveillance flights. The US denied it.

By Wednesday evening, the ceasefire was holding in the narrowest sense — no major US-Iran engagements. But everything around it was on fire.

-- YOSEF STERN, Jerusalem