Key facts
- The US and Iran have not released the text of their agreement to end a war.
- Both nations are framing the deal as a victory to their domestic audiences.
- Experts suggest Iran achieved its war aim of survival and re-establishing deterrence at a heavy price.
- The agreement defers critical issues such as Iran's nuclear program and leaves Israel in a challenging position.
- US President Donald Trump stated the Strait of Hormuz would be completely open from Friday.
- Critics argue the US lost global credibility and its competitors will analyze the conflict's revelations about American power.
The United States and Iran have reached an agreement to end a protracted war, though the specific terms of the deal have not been publicly disclosed by either party. Both nations are framing the outcome as a success for their respective interests.
Experts suggest that while Iran has emerged weakened militarily and economically, it has succeeded in denying its adversaries, the US and Israel, their primary war aims of regime change and dismantling its nuclear and missile capabilities. This outcome is described as a 'pyrrhic victory' for Iran, achieved at a significant cost, including the death of its supreme leader Ali Khamenei and continued strikes against high-profile figures.
The agreement defers critical issues such as Iran's nuclear ambitions and leaves Israel, which had aimed to curb Iran's regional influence, in a difficult position. The deal includes an end to the Israel-Hezbollah war but leaves many underlying issues in Lebanon unresolved, which could jeopardize future negotiations.
US President Donald Trump declared the deal a victory, emphasizing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy chokepoint. However, critics argue that the US has lost global credibility and that competitors like Russia and China will study the conflict for insights into the limitations of American power. The agreement sets the stage for 60 days of further negotiations in Switzerland, with the critical nuclear issue remaining unresolved.
Israel has condemned the deal, viewing the deferral of the nuclear issue as a major setback and a loss of momentum in its relationships with Gulf states and leverage with the US. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces internal criticism for failing to achieve the war's objectives.