Key facts
- The U.S. and Iran have reached a tentative agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
- The deal is scheduled to be signed on Friday in Switzerland.
- The U.S. will ease its blockade of Iranian ports and relax sanctions to allow Iran to sell more oil.
- The agreement includes an immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.
- U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the deal and authorized an end to the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports.
The United States and Iran have reached a tentative agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to Pakistan. The deal, slated for signing on Friday in Switzerland, offers potential relief to the global economy after more than three months of conflict.
Full details of the agreement were not immediately available, but it is understood that the U.S. will ease its blockade of Iranian ports as the Strait of Hormuz reopens. Sanctions are also expected to be relaxed, allowing Iran to increase its oil sales and bolster its economy. This agreement largely aims to restore the situation to its pre-war status.
The deal reportedly includes an immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon. Mediators are expected to facilitate meetings to establish the groundwork for technical discussions. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the agreement on social media, stating, "Congratulations to all!" and authorizing the end of the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Iranian state media reported Pakistan's announcement following Israeli attacks on Beirut's southern suburbs, which had threatened the ongoing negotiations. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil, natural gas, and fertilizer shipments, and its effective closure had significantly impacted the global economy.
Despite the emerging deal, certain stated targets by the U.S. and Israel at the war's outset remain unaddressed. These include Iran's missile program, its support for regional proxies like Hezbollah, and its stockpile of enriched uranium for its nuclear program. Iran's supreme leader, Khamenei's son, who has not been publicly seen since the war began, would have needed to approve the deal.
Iran had sought the inclusion of a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of billions of dollars in frozen funds as part of the deal. The emerging agreement faced criticism from Israel's government and some within Trump's Republican Party, with some arguing it did not improve upon the terms of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, from which Trump had previously withdrawn the U.S.
The conflict saw Iran attack Israel and several Arab Gulf nations with missiles and drones after a ceasefire was initially reached on April 7. The U.S. military imposed its blockade ten days later. Previous face-to-face talks between Vice President JD Vance and Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf concluded without success.
Throughout the negotiations, Trump's approach varied between threats and expressions of a more professional relationship with Iran as his administration sought an exit from the war amid upcoming midterm U.S. elections. Iran's government, facing internal tensions and the need to replace officials killed in the war, had expressed wariness regarding negotiations following previous rounds that ended with U.S. and Israeli attacks. Tehran emphasized a focus on ending the war, deferring discussions on its nuclear program.