Strait of Hormuz agreement: US and Iran move to end war and reopen shipping route

The United States and Iran reached an agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The move offered relief for the global economy after more than three months of fighting. Details were not released. Pakistan, a main mediator, said the signing will be Friday in Switzerland.

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US President Donald Trump confirmed the agreement and said the US will end its naval blockade. The blockade targeted Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. It was imposed after Iran tightened control over the key shipping route. Trump posted, "Congratulations to all!\"

Strait of Hormuz agreement and the US naval blockade

Trump wrote, \"I hereby fully authorise the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorise the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade.\" The US earlier said it would ease the blockade as the strait reopens. It also said it would relax sanctions for more Iranian oil sales.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, confirmed the agreement on state television. Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran would not begin steps until the signing on Friday. Kazem Gharibabadi said the deal followed more than 14 hours of talks in Tehran. A representative from Qatar also took part as a mediator.

Iranian state TV showed a banner saying, \"US was forced to sign an agreement to end the war.\" Pakistan announced the deal after a tense day in the region. Israel, not part of the talks, attacked Beirut’s southern suburbs. Israel was pursuing the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, which risked disrupting the talks.

Strait of Hormuz deal terms, Pakistan mediation, and Lebanon fighting

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, \"Both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon,\" Shehbaz Sharif added that mediators will help set up meetings this week. The goal was to prepare the groundwork for later technical talks.

Two senior Pakistani officials said talks on unresolved issues would continue for 60 days. The officials spoke earlier Sunday and requested anonymity. The officials said the timeline could be extended if needed. Key unresolved areas were expected to include Iran’s nuclear programme, according to earlier statements.

The deal likely restored conditions seen before the war, but with heavy losses. Thousands of people were killed during the conflict. Iran also gained new pressure through influence over shipping in the strait. The waterway carried major oil and natural gas cargoes, plus products like fertiliser.

Iran nuclear programme talks after the Strait of Hormuz deal

US and Israeli strikes began the war on February 28 and killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran still had a missile programme, armed proxies, and enriched uranium stockpiles. Khamenei’s son became supreme leader. He was not seen in public since the war began, and approval was required.

Iran wanted the ceasefire to cover Lebanon, where Israel expanded its invasion further than in over 25 years. Tehran also sought the release of billions of dollars in frozen funds. The agreement faced criticism in its final hours. Israel’s government and some Republicans said the terms echoed the 2015 nuclear deal.

Iran’s government warned that internal disputes would weaken its bargaining position. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged unity. Masoud Pezeshkian said it was a disgrace when someone stands before parliament and calls negotiators traitors. Officials also faced tensions with hard-liners while replacing leaders killed in the war.

After the war began, Iran hit Israel and several Arab Gulf nations with missiles and drones. A ceasefire was reached on April 7. Ten days later, the US imposed the blockade. A face-to-face meeting between Vice President J D Vance and Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf ended without success.

During the talks, Trump alternated between threats and praise in public comments. Trump threatened to destroy Iranian infrastructure and even its civilisation. Trump also described ties as more professional at times. Iran remained cautious after talks last year and early this year ended with US and Israeli attacks.

Iran said its priority was stopping the war, with nuclear discussions delayed. Iran had 440.9 kg 972 pounds of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent purity, the IAEA said. That level was close to weapons-grade at 90 per cent. Iran said its programme was peaceful and did not commit to surrendering the stockpile.

The enriched uranium was believed to be buried under three nuclear sites damaged by US strikes last year. At times, the US sought removal of the material from Iran. Russia offered to take it. At other times, Trump said he wanted it destroyed, while the wider negotiations were expected to continue.

With inputs from PTI