US-Iran ceasefire: The Ongoing Story and the Reactions of QUB’s Student Body

By Gavin Murphy

Now, on day 45 of the US-Iran conflict, with a ceasefire that is tenuous at best and peace negotiations that have inspired little confidence, what are the reactions of Queen’s students to this ongoing geopolitical struggle?

Beginning on the 28^th of February with joint American/Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic of Iran, seeing the death of Ayatollah Khamanei as well as a strike on an Iranian girls’ school that continues to be investigated, the newest war in the Middle East has done almost everything except de-escalate.

US President Donald Trump, posting on his Truth Social platform even threatened that:

“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!“

Trump’s rhetoric has not moved from threatening strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure to, most recently, a complete US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, blocking any ship that pays a toll to Iran. The former claim, if carried out, would constitute a war crime if American forces attacked civilian infrastructure much the same way Putin’s Russia has infamously done in Ukraine. The latter, officially beginning on Monday, 13^th April, does little to reopen the crucial route for international trade and has left the US isolated from many of its strategic allies.

A ceasefire was successfully agreed upon with peace negotiations taking place in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, beginning on Friday, 10^th. However, these only lasted for 21 hours before collapsing, with US Vice President J. D. Vance leaving the country, and talks collapsing due to both sides having little trust in each other.

Various student-led organisations have been vocal in their reactions to these developments in the Iran conflict. QUB’s Palestine Assembly, in a statement to the Gown, [3] highlighted the role of Israel in maintaining the ceasefire and the repeated violations of their own ceasefire in Gaza, with 713 Palestinians being killed as a result of the Israeli military since its signing on 10^th October 2025. [4] They also voiced their support for the “Iranian, Lebanese and Palestinian people to resist the US-Israeli aggression by any means necessary. The people’s right to life, dignity and liberation are unconditional and unequivocal.” [3]

As well as activists, student-led political parties have voiced their opinions. QUB’s branch of Sinn Fein, in a statement to the Gown, voiced their condemnation of the US strikes on Iran, in addition to their scepticism of the peace deal as with the instability the conflict has brought to the oil market “energy politics drive everything,” [5] emphasizing instead, “the effects Irish neutrality can have on the world stage, and we hope a permanent, effective peace agreement can be achieved in the near future.” [5] It is clear that while there is much scepticism of current US peace efforts, hope exists for an end to the war sooner rather than later, one that will satisfy all parties.

Unfortunately, while approached for a statement by the Gown, the DUP and Alliance parties’ student groups declined to provide a comment. However, First Minister Michelle O’Neill of Sinn Féin has criticised the DUP, labelling them as “Cheerleaders,” who are “championing this war.” [6] Also, several Unionist politicians have shown support for US strikes on Iran in the past, such as DUP MP Jim Shannon’s endorsement of President Trump’s attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities last year. [7]

These geopolitical events will likely have profound economic and social effects on the public. For instance, this week’s cross-border protests against soaring energy prices are a direct result of the conflict’s disruption of the global fuel trade. According to the US Energy Information Administration, global oil traffic has slowed by nearly 20% [8] since the war began, with prices fluctuating, rising by 7% after the announcement of the US blockade. [9] This has left many Queen’s students with longer commutes if they can reach campus at all, or finding it harder to fuel their cars, and having to cope with the rising price of oil.

The conflict between the US and Iran has had a global impact, leaving many Queen’s students invested in its outcome, as well as its political, social and economic implications, and wary of what may come next in an increasingly tense international community. Any further developments on this international conflict will be reported on by the Gown with as much up-to-date and accurate information as possible.

References:

[1] “Donald J. Trump (@RealDonaldTrump).” 2026. Truth Social. 2026. https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116363336033995961

[2] Martin, Jacquelyn. 2026. Vice President JD Vance with Pakistani and American Officials before Departing Islamabad, Pakistan, on Sunday Following Talks with Iran, Photo. Edited by Tyler Pager. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/11/world/iran-war-trump-talks-pakistan

[3] Alkrenawi, Layali, 2026, Palestine Assembly Statement Interview by Gavin Murphy, The Gown

[4] Quds News Network, 2026, “Six Months into Gaza’s Ceasefire: No Pause in Israeli Genocide or in Suffering,” Quds News Network, April 2, 2026, https://qudsnen.co/post?id=67480&slug=six-months-into-gazas-ceasefire-no-pause-in-israeli-genocide-or-in-suffering

[5] Adhamh, 2026, Review of Ogra Shinn Fein Statement Interview by Gavin Murphy, The Gown

[6] Savage, Claudia, 2026, “Michelle O’Neill Says DUP Acting as ‘Cheerleaders’ for War amid Rising Oil Costs,” The Independent, March 5, 2026, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/dup-iran-first-minister-northern-ireland-b2932838.html

[7] “MSN,” 2026, Msn.com, 2026, https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/northern-irelands-major-unionist-parties-defend-united-states-decision-to-bomb-irans-nuclear-programme/ar-AA1Hc7Fk

[8] EIA. 2024. “Amid Regional Conflict, the Strait of Hormuz Remains Critical Oil Chokepoint – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).” Eia.gov. 2024. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65504

[9] Chia, Osmond, and Dearbail Jordan. 2026. “Oil Back above $100 as US to Blockade Iran’s Ports after Peace Talks Fail.” BBC News, April 12, 2026. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn781z4lgg4o