US, Iran agree framework to end conflict as Strait of Hormuz set to reopen

ISLAMABAD: The United States and Iran have reached a framework agreement to end months of conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, marking the most significant diplomatic breakthrough since fighting erupted following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced early Monday that Pakistan’s mediation efforts had helped both sides reach an agreement, with the official signing ceremony scheduled to take place in Switzerland on June 19.

In a post on X, the prime minister said the agreement provides for the immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.

Shehbaz thanked the leadership of Qatar for its mediation efforts and also acknowledged the contributions of Saudi Arabia and Turkiye in helping facilitate the agreement.

He said mediators would oversee a series of meetings during the week, with pre-implementation discussions paving the way for technical negotiations ahead of the formal signing ceremony.

US President Donald Trump also confirmed the breakthrough, writing on his Truth Social platform that “the Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete.”

The memorandum of understanding is expected to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday.

While the full text of the agreement has not yet been released, the prime minister said it includes an immediate and permanent end to military operations, including in Lebanon, where hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah had remained a key obstacle during negotiations.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council also announced that military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, would permanently cease from Monday night.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said negotiations on a broader agreement, including sanctions relief and other outstanding issues, would continue during a 60-day ceasefire period.

The future of Iran’s nuclear programme will also be addressed during those talks.

There was no immediate response from Israel, which has repeatedly stated that it was not a party to the US-Iran negotiations.

President Trump said the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and gas shipments that had remained effectively closed for months, would reopen on Friday. He also announced an end to the US blockade of Iranian ports.

The announcement triggered a sharp market reaction, with Brent crude oil prices falling around four per cent in early Monday trading, while Asian stock markets rallied.

Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, questions remain over the agreement’s long-term impact, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.

Former US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the agreement restored conditions that existed before the conflict but warned there were still no guarantees that Iran’s nuclear activities would ultimately be resolved.

The conflict, which began after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, has killed thousands of people, primarily in Iran and Lebanon, disrupted global energy markets and heightened tensions across the Middle East.

Political pressure has also mounted on President Trump, with rising fuel prices affecting public opinion ahead of November’s US midterm elections. At the same time, some members of his own Republican Party continue to insist that any final agreement must permanently dismantle Iran’s nuclear programme.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham welcomed the framework agreement but said Congress would closely scrutinise any future nuclear deal with Tehran.

The agreement follows months of indirect negotiations after years of heightened tensions. During his first term, President Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated under former president Barack Obama, prompting Iran to significantly expand its uranium enrichment programme.

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One of the key issues in the upcoming negotiations will be the future of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Although the agreement was reached, regional tensions remain. Israel continued military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon over the weekend, reflecting ongoing differences between Washington and Tel Aviv over the conflict.

World leaders welcomed the diplomatic breakthrough. Britain, Germany, France and Italy said they were prepared to ease sanctions on Iran if Tehran takes verifiable steps to limit its nuclear programme, while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed that freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz must be fully restored and reiterated that Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon.