A peace agreement between the United States and Iran is set to be formally signed in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 19, marking a major step toward ending a conflict that has roiled the Middle East for more than three months.
The initial announcement came from Pakistan and was subsequently confirmed by Washington and Tehran.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said both sides had agreed to the “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.”
Sharif also thanked the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey for their support in mediation efforts that helped bring the two sides to an agreement.
US President Donald Trump announced the breakthrough on social media on Sunday, declaring that the deal
with Iran was complete and authorising the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz alongside the lifting of the US naval blockade.
“The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete,” Trump wrote.
“I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade.”
“Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!” he added.
TEHRAN CONFIRMS END OF WAR, TALKS TO FOLLOW
Iran also confirmed the agreement.
AFP reported that Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the deal would bring an “immediate end” to the war between the two countries and that talks would take place within two months to pursue a final agreement.
The announcement came after a tense day in which Tehran had vowed retaliation following an Israeli strike targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah in the suburbs of Beirut.
According to AFP, the incident briefly threatened to derail efforts to finalise the agreement.
The conflict began in late February when US-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered retaliatory attacks by Tehran against Israel and US allies in the region.
The confrontation expanded beyond direct military exchanges, severely disrupting maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies.
STRAIT OF HORMUZ, SANCTIONS RELIEF PART OF DRAFT FRAMEWORK
While the full text of the agreement has not been officially released, Reuters reported that a senior Iranian official described a draft memorandum of understanding covering issues ranging from Tehran’s nuclear programme to sanctions relief and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the report, Iran would immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, while the United States would begin lifting its naval blockade on Iranian ports.
The process of removing the blockade would start immediately after the memorandum is signed and be completed within 30 days.
Reuters also reported that Washington has agreed not to impose any new sanctions on Iran while negotiations continue.
Under the draft framework, all US and UN sanctions on Iran would eventually be lifted according to an agreed timetable once a final accord is reached.
The memorandum further envisages waivers on oil sanctions, allowing Iran to sell oil and receive revenue.
The draft includes provisions for the release of $25 billion in frozen Iranian assets through a combination of direct cash transfers, regional financial cooperation and credit arrangements.
The framework also calls for discussions on a reconstruction and development plan for Iran, to be negotiated within 60 days.
NUCLEAR ISSUES TO BE NEGOTIATED OVER THE NEXT 60 DAYS
Reuters reported that Iran has agreed that it will neither produce nor acquire nuclear weapons.
Pending a final agreement, Tehran would maintain the current status of its nuclear programme, refraining from further uranium enrichment and expansion of nuclear facilities.
The United States, according to the draft cited by Reuters, would allow Iran to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium on Iranian soil under a future comprehensive agreement.
Key issues involving uranium enrichment, Iran’s nuclear programme and the handling of highly enriched uranium stockpiles will be negotiated during 60 days following the signing of the memorandum.
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