On January 28, Israel and the United States launched the first wave of coordinated attacks on targets in Iran. The operation ended the life of the country's leader, Ayatollah Jamenei, and around fifty high-ranking officials, decimating the naval and air force, but also leading to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil supply and pushing the barrel price above $140. On April 8, boasting of having already achieved all military objectives, having eliminated Tehran's capabilities and also facilitated a regime change, Trump, with Pakistan's mediation, announced a two-week ceasefire. Hormuz has remained closed since then, with a double naval blockade, and the exchange of fire never really stopped completely, but this pause has been maintained while negotiating a global peace agreement. And this Sunday, after countless hints, corrections, denials, and reproaches, the U.S. President, Donald Trump, has stated that the agreement has been closed.
"The agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all! I hereby fully authorize the toll-free opening of the Strait of Hormuz and, simultaneously, I authorize the immediate lifting of the U.S. naval blockade. Ships of the world, start your engines! Let the oil flow!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. A few minutes later, however, he posted a second text saying that the Strait will open next Friday when the papers are signed. "This great agreement will bring peace and security to the entire region. Many presidents have tried to achieve peace with Iran, and all have failed before me. The leaders of the region have found, for the first time, a president who can help them achieve true peace. With the opening of the strait after the agreement is signed on Friday, for mine removal, oil will flow at both ends for the region and the world."
Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, had expressed a similar sentiment on social media just moments before. "After intense discussions, we are pleased to announce that the Peace Agreement between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran has been REACHED. Both parties have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon. The official signing ceremony will be on Friday, June 19, in Switzerland. We would like to thank the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran for their commitment to finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to our brothers in this mediation effort, the great leadership of the State of Qatar, for their support in reaching this agreement. We would also especially thank the visionary leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Turkey for their immense contributions in this regard. With the agreement now in effect, the mediators will facilitate a series of meetings this week. These pre-implementation discussions will lay the groundwork for technical talks and the official signing ceremony," he reported.
Trump is heading to Europe this Monday, for the G7 summit in France. He is trying to schedule a meeting with Netanyahu during the trip. It is not yet clear if he will attend the signing himself or if it will be JD Vance. The Vice President stated on television that he plans to attend the Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony, but it will depend on his boss's decision. "I think we are still working out the logistics of who is going to attend. "Of course, I plan to be there, but it is possible that the President himself will go." The Secret Service generally advises against both top country officials being abroad at the same time, especially for the same event.
In any case, the agreement is not complete or final. It will allow for a complete halt to crossfire, the reopening of Hormuz, and the approval of a milestone schedule to gradually lift sanctions on Iran and its oil, granting access to frozen funds. However, it still leaves pending the recovery of enriched uranium buried in the country's nuclear facilities after the 2025 attacks. And above all, it postpones discussions on the nuclear program itself for later.
The situation in Lebanon, or in other words, Israel's plans, once again jeopardized today's announcement. This morning, furious, President Trump once again turned to his new favorite communication tool, a series of short interviews with journalists. Specifically, with Axios, a small media outlet that has become the best way to understand the messages the administration wants to convey. ""Why the hell did Bibi order an attack? I was so pissed off. I let him know. He has no damn sense left. I let him know," Trump told the media once again lashing out at his main ally for the recent bombings in Lebanon.
"The enemy, who attacked to carry out their malicious intentions, has seen all their objectives reduced to nothing, and the Islamic Republic of Iran has achieved great victories in this war," celebrated the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, on Iranian state television. The first senior official to speak out.
Trump has given instructions in his tweet to end the American blockade, but the next steps by Iran are not clear. Whether there will be a total reopening tomorrow, if it will be gradual, or how compliance with the agreement will be monitored. One of the main and fundamental doubts is whether this preliminary agreement will allow for the lifting of sanctions and restrictions on the sale of Iranian oil.