US-Iran Ceasefire Deal Announced, Strait of Hormuz to Reopen
Pakistan has announced that the United States and Iran have reached an agreement to end ongoing hostilities and facilitate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the deal, stating he authorized the termination of the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports. The agreement reportedly includes the immediate and permanent cessation of military operations across all fronts, including in Lebanon. The formal signing of the deal is scheduled for Friday in Switzerland.
Pakistan has confirmed that the United States and Iran have reached an agreement aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a development anticipated to provide relief to the global economy. The conflict had been ongoing for more than three months.
U.S. President Donald Trump verified the existence of a deal with Iran and announced his authorization for an end to the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports within the Strait of Hormuz. In a social media post, President Trump wrote, "Congratulations to all!" and added, "Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!" He did not provide further details on the agreement.
The agreement, as stated by Pakistan, includes the "immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon." Mediators are expected to facilitate meetings this week to establish a foundation for technical talks. The formal signing of the deal is planned for Friday in Switzerland. Details regarding how quickly the Strait might reopen to all traffic were not immediately available.
The U.S. had previously indicated it would ease its blockade of Iranian ports as the Strait reopened and agreed to relax sanctions, potentially allowing Iran to increase oil sales and bolster its economy. The Strait of Hormuz is vital for significant international shipments of oil, natural gas, and related products such as fertilizer. Its effective closure during the conflict had severely impacted the global economy.
The war began on February 28 with strikes by the U.S. and Israel, which reportedly killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His son now serves as supreme leader, and his approval was necessary for Iran to sign the deal. Despite the announced agreement, Iran reportedly maintains a missile program, support for regional proxies like Hezbollah in Lebanon, and a stockpile of 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity.
During the negotiation period, Israel, which was not involved in the talks, conducted attacks on Beirut's southern suburbs. Iran's demands for a ceasefire deal included an end to fighting in Lebanon and the release of billions of dollars in frozen funds. The emerging deal faced criticism from Israel's government and some members of President Trump's Republican Party.
(Source: Fortune)
