US, Iran Reach Agreement to End War, Signing Scheduled for Friday
The United States and Iran have reached a framework agreement aimed at ending their ongoing conflict, officials announced on Sunday. This agreement includes a cessation of the U.S. blockade on Iran and the reopening of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. An official signing ceremony is set for Friday in Switzerland.
This preliminary pact has already impacted global markets, causing a drop in oil prices, but it leaves unresolved issues regarding Iran’s nuclear program for future negotiations.
Key Developments in the Agreement
U.S. President Donald Trump declared the completion of the deal with Iran on his Truth Social platform around 5:30 PM ET on Sunday. His announcement followed a statement from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has acted as a mediator in the negotiations, confirming that a deal had been reached early Monday local time.
The specific terms of the agreement remain unclear. However, Sharif indicated that the pact mandates “the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.” Lebanon has been a contentious issue in recent negotiations, with ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
In a statement, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed that military operations would cease permanently starting Monday night. Israel has not yet responded to this announcement, maintaining that it was not involved in the U.S.-Iran discussions.
Reopening the Strait of Hormuz
Trump emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route for global oil and gas supplies, would reopen on Friday. He also ordered an end to the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. Following this news, Brent crude futures fell by 4% in early trading on Monday, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate dropped more than 4.6%. Asian stock markets reacted positively to the developments.
Matthew Miller, a former spokesperson for the Biden administration’s State Department, noted that Trump had made significant concessions to Iran to restore the status quo that existed prior to the conflict. He expressed concerns that there are no guarantees regarding the future of Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that a more comprehensive agreement would be negotiated during a 60-day ceasefire period, which would include discussions on sanctions relief for Iran. The fate of Iran’s nuclear program is expected to be a central topic in these upcoming talks.
Background and Context
The conflict has resulted in thousands of casualties, primarily in Iran and Lebanon, since U.S. and Israeli forces initiated attacks on Iran on February 28. Iran has retaliated by targeting Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases, effectively blockading the Strait of Hormuz and driving up global energy prices. In response, U.S. forces have blocked Iranian ports.
The ongoing war has become a political liability for Trump and his Republican allies, particularly as public opinion polls indicate widespread frustration among Americans over rising gas prices ahead of the November midterm elections. Additionally, Trump faces pressure from party members advocating for a complete shutdown of Iran’s nuclear program.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent advocate for a hardline stance on Iran, praised the agreement but indicated he would closely monitor future negotiations regarding the nuclear program. He noted that any nuclear deal with Iran would be subject to congressional review and a vote.
During his first term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 multilateral Iran deal, which was negotiated by former President Barack Obama. This agreement had lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for limitations on its nuclear program, including international inspections. Following the U.S. withdrawal, Iran accelerated its uranium enrichment, producing over 400 kg of material close to bomb-grade purity.
Tensions with Israel
The agreement was finalized despite an Israeli airstrike on Lebanon on Sunday, which drew criticism from both Iran and Trump. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed disagreement with Trump regarding U.S. demands for Israel to limit its military actions in Lebanon to facilitate a deal with Iran. Israel has asserted its right to operate freely in Lebanon, while Iran has made a complete ceasefire in the region a critical demand.
Trump reportedly updated Netanyahu on the progress of the peace deal during a phone call on Sunday. In a recent interview, Trump described Netanyahu as “a very difficult guy” and suggested that the Israeli leader should be grateful for U.S. efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
International leaders have welcomed the announcement of the agreement. In a joint statement, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy expressed readiness to lift sanctions on Iran in response to “clear, verifiable steps” to limit its nuclear program. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the necessity of restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and reaffirmed that Iran must never possess a nuclear weapon.
Before the deal was announced, a senior Iranian official indicated that the U.S. would agree to release $25 billion of frozen Iranian assets as part of the agreement. A U.S. official also stated that the deal would ultimately lead to the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program, including the destruction and removal of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
A senior Iranian official noted that the draft agreement would allow Iran, which denies pursuing a nuclear bomb, to dilute its enriched uranium domestically.
Source: www.arnnewscentre.ae
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Published on 2026-06-15 05:30:00 • By the Editorial Desk
