People walk past a mural featuring the late Islamic Revolution leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on a street in Tehran, Iran, June 14, 2026.
– Trump claims the agreement includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
– A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is announced despite an Israeli attack in Lebanon.
– Iran’s nuclear program will be addressed in subsequent negotiations.
The U.S. and Iranian officials announced they’ve reached a preliminary deal to end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This agreement caused oil prices to drop but leaves Iran’s nuclear future to be determined in later talks. While still a framework, it represents the most significant step toward resolving a conflict that has resulted in thousands of deaths and disrupted energy markets since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran in February.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, acting as a mediator, confirmed early Monday that a deal had been finalized. He posted on social media that both sides agreed to immediately and permanently cease military operations across all regions, including Lebanon. The official signing is scheduled for June 19 in Switzerland. He also thanked Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey for their roles in mediating the agreement, describing their leadership as visionary and appreciative of their substantial contributions.
With the agreement in place, mediators are set to facilitate a series of meetings this week, including preliminary discussions to lay the groundwork for technical talks and the official signing.
US President Donald Trump shared on Truth Social around 5:30 p.m. Washington time on Sunday that “The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete.” The formal signing of the memorandum is scheduled for Friday in Switzerland. The details of the deal remain unclear, but Sharif indicated it calls for an immediate and permanent end to military actions everywhere, including Lebanon.
Lebanon’s negotiations have been complicated by ongoing conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah, despite calls for a ceasefire from Trump and others. Iran’s Security Council said that hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, would end permanently starting Monday night. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi added that a more comprehensive agreement, including sanctions relief for Iran, would be negotiated during a 60-day ceasefire period, which will also address Iran’s nuclear ambitions—another contentious issue. Previous reports indicated that these later negotiations will focus on Iran’s nuclear program.
There has been no immediate response from Israel, which has stated it was not part of the U.S.-Iran talks.
Trump also announced that the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global oil supplies that Iran has largely shut down, would reopen on Friday, and that he had ordered the lifting of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. He urged maritime traffic to resume with “start your engines. Let the oil flow!” Oil prices responded positively, with Brent crude futures dropping 4% early Monday and Asian stock markets gaining.
Analysts expressed cautious optimism. Sean Callow of ITC Markets noted that the lack of specific details regarding shipping freedoms was a concern but believed it wouldn’t hinder markets today as risk appetite rises. Former State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller observed that Trump made significant concessions to Iran to restore the pre-war status quo, emphasizing that there are no guarantees Iran’s nuclear plans will ever be fully addressed, but that Iran has demonstrated its ability to leverage economic pressure.
The conflict that began in February, with U.S. and Israeli strikes, has resulted in significant casualties, mostly in Iran and Lebanon. Iran’s retaliations included attacks on Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. bases, and Iran has also blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, causing a spike in global energy prices. In turn, the U.S. has responded with measures blocking Iranian ports. The war has become a political challenge domestically in the U.S., especially during an election year, with debates over how to handle Iran’s nuclear program.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Iran hawk, praised the deal but emphasized that Congress will review and vote on any nuclear agreement. Trump previously withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 Iran Deal negotiated under President Obama, which lifted sanctions in exchange for limits on Iran’s nuclear capabilities, including inspections. Since then, Iran has increased uranium enrichment, producing over 400 kg close to weapons-grade purity, making future negotiations crucial.
Despite the deal’s sealing amidst Israeli military actions in Lebanon, leaders outside the Middle East welcomed the development. Britain, Germany, France, and Italy expressed readiness to lift sanctions in response to verifiable steps Iran takes toward curbing its nuclear program, emphasizing the importance of restoring free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Prior to the announcement, Iranian officials indicated that the U.S. would agree to release approximately $25 billion in frozen Iranian assets—a move contingent on Iran fulfilling certain conditions. U.S. sources suggested the agreement aims to dismantle Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, including destroying its highly enriched uranium, while Iran would be allowed to dilute its enriched uranium within its borders.
