Key facts
- A peace deal between the US and Iran has been reached, with a signing ceremony set for June 19 in Switzerland.
- US President Donald Trump announced the agreement is complete and will end Washington's naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
- The deal is seen by some as an alternative to war and a step towards regional stability.
- Democratic lawmakers expressed cautious optimism but called for rigorous congressional oversight.
- International leaders from Japan, Germany, and New Zealand welcomed the development.
A "peace deal" between the United States and Iran has been reached, with a signing ceremony scheduled for June 19 in Switzerland, according to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. US President Donald Trump announced that the agreement is now complete and will lead to the end of Washington’s naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, allowing the flow of oil to resume.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated President Trump on the milestone deal, which coincided with his birthday. Al Jazeera's analyst noted that while Trump has announced deals multiple times before, this one is finalized and offers an alternative to war. US envoy Mike Waltz praised President Trump for securing an agreement that prevents Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, cautiously welcomed the memorandum but stressed that the war had inflicted costs on Americans, partners, allies, global markets, and civilians. He emphasized that negotiated, verifiable agreements are the only way to sustainably address disputes with Iran and called for rigorous congressional review of any final agreement to ensure it is durable, enforceable, and transparent.
Hakeem Jeffries, minority leader of the US House of Representatives, responded to Trump’s announcement by noting that the US had already signed a deal with Iran that constrained its nuclear program in 2015 under former President Barack Obama. Jeffries stated that Trump "recklessly ripped that agreement up and took us to war," resulting in soaring gas prices, a stronger Iran, and a less safe America.
Initially, President Trump announced on Truth Social that the Strait of Hormuz would immediately reopen, but he later clarified that the reopening would be delayed and coincide with the June 19 signing ceremony. Analysts suggest the agreement could lay the groundwork for wider rapprochement in the Middle East. Abas Aslani, an analyst at the Center for Middle East Strategic Studies in Tehran, believes the deal offers hope for peace and could pave the way for improved regional relations, provided Israel and the United States allow it.
Iranian officials framed the deal as a success for their diplomacy and war deterrence, emphasizing that it was not forced upon them but was the result of difficult negotiations. They highlighted their effective defense of the country and sent messages that Iran's sovereignty is a red line. The timing of the announcement was notable, occurring just before Iran was reportedly ready to launch strikes against Israel in retaliation for attacks in Beirut.
World leaders also reacted positively. Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called it a "major step" and expressed hope for the steady implementation of the MoU and ensured free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz congratulated the leaders of Iran and the US, stating the deal could pave the way for a reinvigorated global economy and a more secure Middle East. New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters hoped for swift implementation, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a constructive step towards addressing long-standing challenges.
Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, an Iran expert, characterized the agreement as the first regional peace deal in the Middle East, suggesting its logic and framework could underpin a new regional architecture. He noted that major regional powers had a hand in the deal's formulation and consensus-building.