U.S. and Iran Reach Tentative Ceasefire Deal Amid Regional Tensions
The United States and Iran announced a preliminary agreement to extend their cease-fire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though implementation faces hurdles from Israel and unresolved nuclear issues.
Washington and Tehran said they had reached an initial memorandum of understanding that would prolong the fragile cease-fire that has held since February and pave the way for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key conduit for global oil and gas shipments. The agreement, which still requires a formal signing in Switzerland on Friday, does not specify details and will give the parties 60 days to address Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile and other outstanding issues.
Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, warned that Israel will not withdraw from territory it captured in Lebanon and other fronts while the interim deal is pending, and he threatened a strong response if Iran were to attack Israel over recent strikes in Lebanon. The Israeli-Iranian proxy conflict in Lebanon, where Israel bombed parts of Beirut on Sunday, has complicated the negotiations.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a key mediator, said both sides have declared an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, and that mediators will facilitate technical talks in the coming weeks. Qatar also participated in the talks, and further preparatory meetings are planned in Doha.
International reactions were broadly supportive. China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian expressed hope that the memorandum would be signed as scheduled to restore safe passage through the strait. France’s foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot welcomed the agreement, calling for all parties to respect it, and the European Union’s foreign policy chief said the opening of the strait was essential. The United Kingdom’s prime minister Keir Starmer pledged cooperation to ensure the deal leads to lasting peace.
U.S. officials indicated that senior leaders, possibly including President Donald Trump, would attend the signing ceremony. Some U.S. Republicans, such as Senator Lindsey Graham, voiced concerns that Iran’s interpretation of the deal might differ from that of the American negotiating team.
The memorandum remains tentative, with the next steps dependent on the Friday signing and subsequent negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme and regional security arrangements.
