ISLAMABAD: The United States and Iran have signed a landmark agreement to end months of conflict, alleviate sanctions on Tehran, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The deal was endorsed by Pakistan, which served as the mediator for the negotiations.
According to reports from both governments, the agreement mandates a permanent cessation of hostilities and establishes a 60-day window for negotiations to finalize a comprehensive deal regarding Iran’s nuclear program. In a significant concession from Washington, the accord allows Iran to immediately resume free oil sales.
The process has been marked by secrecy and ambiguity. US officials remained tight-lipped about the specific terms for several days, even after confirming that President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance had signed the document digitally over the weekend.
In a statement to Arab News on Thursday, the White House clarified: “On Sunday, the MOU (memorandum of understanding) was signed digitally by Vice President Vance and Speaker [Bagher] Ghalibaf and witnessed by President Trump. Now, it has been signed by President Trump and President Pezeshkian.”
President Trump signed a physical copy of the accord during a dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles. A formal signing ceremony is scheduled for Friday in Switzerland.
“It’s signed,” Trump stated upon leaving the dinner, which followed his attendance at the Group of Seven summit in France.
A video shared by a White House aide shows Trump signing the document alongside Macron before handing the paper and pen to Secretary of State Marco Rubio amidst applause. In a separate video posted by Macron, Trump is heard saying, “This was not easy,” just before affixing his signature.
In Tehran, President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the deal on behalf of Iran. The state-run IRNA news agency published an image of the Iranian president holding the document, displaying both his and Trump’s signatures.
While the US has not yet formally released the full text, officials provided draft language to journalists on the condition of anonymity. Iranian state media has published a version of the text that closely aligns with the US draft.
The agreement largely restores the status quo preceding the war, ending active hostilities, restarting nuclear negotiations, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz—a critical artery for global oil and natural gas whose closure had triggered a historic energy crisis.
‘IRAN TO INSTANTLY REOPEN THE STRAIT’
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the high-level signing of the agreement reflects a mutual commitment to a diplomatic resolution.
“The Islamabad MoU shall enter into force with immediate effect. As a first step, the Islamic Republic of Iran will instantly reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and the United States of America will immediately lift the naval blockade,” Sharif posted on X.
Drafts from both nations indicate that the strait will remain toll-free for two months, though future fees remain a possibility. In exchange, the US will move to waive, but not entirely eliminate, several broad sanctions against Iran.
The agreement also includes a commitment to Lebanon’s territorial integrity amidst Israel’s military operations against Hezbollah. This remains one of the most contentious points of the deal; Israel has asserted its right to self-defense and maintains its presence in Lebanese territories, while Iran insists that Israeli withdrawal is a necessary condition—a demand Israel has already rejected.
The US and Israel entered the conflict on February 28, driven in part by the objective of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities.
