U.S. and Iran Reach Initial Agreement to End Hostilities and Reopen Strait of Hormuz
Washington and Tehran have announced a preliminary deal that would halt fighting and lift the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, with formal signing expected in Switzerland on Friday.
Washington and Tehran said they have reached an initial accord to end the war that began in February and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil-shipping lane. The agreement, brokered by Pakistan and Qatar, will not be implemented until a formal signing ceremony in Switzerland on Friday, officials said.
U.S. President Donald Trump posted a congratulatory message on social media, stating that he "fully authorizes the toll-free opening of the Strait of Hormuz" and the removal of the U.S. naval blockade, while noting that the opening would wait for the Friday signing.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed the deal on state television and indicated that implementation would begin after the signing. He added that the talks involved Qatari mediators and that further preparatory meetings would be held in Doha.
The United Nations secretary-general’s spokesperson called the arrangement "a critical step toward a peaceful settlement of the conflict," and Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said both sides have declared an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts.
Israel, which entered the war alongside the United States, has not commented publicly and has expressed skepticism about the negotiations. The broader issues, including Iran’s nuclear program and related sanctions, are slated for discussion over the next 60 days, with the timeline subject to extension if necessary.
Energy analysts warned that even with the agreement, it could take months for oil and gas shipments to resume at pre-war levels, as shipping and insurance firms await confirmation that the cease-fire will hold.
