The United States and Iran announced that they have reached a deal aimed at ending months of conflict across the Middle East. The agreement is expected to stop fighting on several fronts, including in Lebanon, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important shipping routes for oil.
The deal is expected to be signed on Friday (19) in Switzerland. Leaders from both countries described it as a major step toward peace after months of violence that have killed thousands of people and disrupted global energy supplies.
However, many details of the agreement have not yet been made public. One of the biggest unanswered questions is how the deal will address Iran's nuclear program.
What have the US and Iran 'actually' agreed to?
US President Donald Trump announced on social media that the agreement with Iran had been completed. He said the Strait of Hormuz would reopen after the deal is signed, allowing oil shipments to move normally again.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi also welcomed the agreement. He said it would bring an immediate end to the conflict between the two countries. He added that both sides would begin further negotiations within two months to work toward a final long-term agreement.
Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif also confirmed the breakthrough. He said both sides had agreed to an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.
Sharif thanked Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey for helping mediate the talks that led to the agreement.
What Are the Main Issues Still Being Negotiated?
Although the announcement was welcomed around the world, important details remain unclear.
Iran's Mehr news agency reported that the United States would release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets. According to the report, Iran could receive $12 billion before negotiations begin and another $24 billion during a 60-day negotiation period.
The Trump administration has not publicly confirmed those details.
The biggest challenge remains Iran's nuclear program. The United States wants to limit Iran's ability to enrich uranium and address concerns about its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
In an interview with The New York Times, Trump said discussions were still taking place about whether Iran would suspend uranium enrichment for 20 years. He suggested that a 15-year suspension could also be considered but declined to discuss negotiations in detail.
The outcome of these talks will likely determine whether the current agreement develops into a lasting peace deal.
How has the world reacted to the agreement?
The announcement brought relief from governments and financial markets around the world.
United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres called the agreement a critical step toward ending the conflict in the Middle East.
The United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy welcomed the development and said they were prepared to consider lifting sanctions on Iran. They also pledged to work with the US, Iran, and regional partners to support a long-term diplomatic solution.
Financial markets responded positively. Oil prices fell more than four percent in Tokyo trading, while Japan's Nikkei stock index rose about three percent.
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz could have major economic benefits. The waterway is a key route for global oil shipments. Its closure had contributed to higher fuel prices, inflation, and supply chain problems around the world.
Vice president JD Vance said the agreement could lower energy costs and create new economic opportunities across the Middle East. He said he plans to attend the signing ceremony in Geneva and noted that Trump could also attend.
What happened before the deal was announced?
The path to the agreement was not smooth.
Earlier on Sunday (14), tensions rose after Israel carried out an airstrike in the suburbs of Beirut targeting Hezbollah, an ally of Iran. The strike threatened to derail the negotiations.
Trump criticized Israel for the timing of the attack and said it had delayed progress toward the agreement. In an interview with Axios, he expressed frustration with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the strike.
Previous Israeli attacks in Beirut had triggered retaliatory missile attacks from Iran and further military action by Israel, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
Iran has long insisted that any agreement to end the war must also address the fighting in Lebanon, where Israel has been conducting operations against Hezbollah.
Despite those tensions, negotiators continued their efforts and eventually announced the agreement, raising hopes that the region could move toward a more stable and peaceful future.
A US military image of the strike on the vessel off OmanUS Centcom
