Dubai/Washington -UNS: The United States and Iran have reached a preliminary agreement aimed at ending months of conflict, lifting the US blockade on Iran, and reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The memorandum of understanding is expected to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday.
US President Donald Trump announced the breakthrough on his Truth Social platform, declaring that a deal with Iran had been completed. The announcement followed confirmation from Shehbaz Sharif, who said Pakistan played a mediation role in securing the agreement.
According to Sharif, the framework calls for an immediate and permanent halt to military operations across all fronts, including Lebanon. Iranian authorities later confirmed that military activities would cease from Monday night.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that broader negotiations would continue during a 60-day ceasefire period. Future talks are expected to focus on sanctions relief and the future of Iran’s nuclear program.
Strait of Hormuz to Reopen
President Trump announced that the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil and gas shipping route, would reopen on Friday. He also said the United States would end its blockade of Iranian ports.
The news triggered a positive market reaction, with global oil prices falling sharply and Asian stock markets posting gains.
Nuclear Issue Remains Unresolved
While the agreement marks a major diplomatic breakthrough, the future of Iran’s nuclear activities remains unresolved. Negotiators are expected to address uranium enrichment, inspections, and sanctions during upcoming discussions.
Former US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller cautioned that significant questions remain regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions despite the ceasefire agreement.
Israel Yet to Respond
Israel has not officially commented on the announcement and was reportedly not a participant in the US-Iran negotiations. Tensions between Washington and the Israeli government have emerged over military operations in Lebanon.
Reports indicate that Trump discussed the peace initiative with Benjamin Netanyahu before the announcement.
International Support
European powers, including United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy, welcomed the development and signaled a willingness to ease sanctions if Iran takes verifiable steps to limit its nuclear activities.
The agreement is viewed as a significant step toward reducing regional tensions and restoring stability to global energy markets, though key issues remain subject to further negotiations.
