Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi announced early Monday, 15 June that the US naval blockade against Iran would be lifted the same night, and that an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts — including Lebanon — had been declared. The announcement marks one of the most significant diplomatic breakthroughs in the prolonged US-Iran standoff.

Key Developments

Gharibabadi confirmed that Iran and the United States will sign a finalised draft of a peace memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Switzerland on 19 June, according to reports citing Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency. A separate source cited by Tasnim indicated that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen following the signing ceremony.

Iran's state broadcaster IRIB TV, also citing Gharibabadi, reported that Iran's entry into a 60-day period of nuclear negotiations with Washington — including discussions on the removal of sanctions — will depend on the US fulfilling its preliminary commitments, which Tehran says it will verify between now and the 19 June signing date.

What Trump and Sharif Said

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was among the first to announce the agreement, posting on social media platform X that the two sides had declared the 'immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.' Sharif added that mediators would facilitate a series of meetings this week to prepare for implementation.

Minutes later, US President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that the US-Iran peace deal 'is now complete,' stating he had authorised the 'toll-free opening of the Strait of Hormuz' and the immediate removal of the US naval blockade against Iranian ports.

Israel's Position

However, the agreement faces an early complication. Israel's Ma'ariv news site, citing Israeli sources, reported that in a phone call between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump, Netanyahu made clear that Israel 'does not consider itself committed to the Lebanese clause in the US-Iran agreement.' This signals potential friction over the ceasefire's reach into Lebanon.

Background and Context

The MoU came as a surprise, given that Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) had warned just Sunday evening of an imminent response to an earlier Israeli strike on Beirut, Lebanon's capital. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of the SNSC, was quoted by IRIB TV as saying: 'Lebanon is our lifeblood, and any violation of Iran's red lines will not be tolerated.' The rapid pivot from war footing to a signed MoU within hours underscores the behind-the-scenes intensity of the diplomatic push.

The Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly 20% of global oil supply transits — had been a major flashpoint, with the blockade raising fears of an energy supply shock. Its reopening, if confirmed, would ease pressure on global crude markets. All eyes now turn to the 19 June ceremony in Switzerland and whether Israel's reservations will fracture the fragile accord before it is formally inked.