The United States and Iran have confirmed that they have reached a peace agreement aimed at ending months of conflict, in what could mark a major diplomatic breakthrough between the two long-time adversaries.
US President Donald Trump said the deal with Tehran was “now complete”, while Iranian officials confirmed key elements of the draft agreement, including measures covering sanctions relief, frozen assets and Iran’s nuclear programme.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has played a mediating role, said both sides had agreed to an immediate and permanent cessation of military operations. He added that a formal signing ceremony would take place in Switzerland on 19 June.
According to officials familiar with the negotiations, the agreement would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes, and pave the way for the gradual easing of sanctions on Iranian oil exports. The two countries are also expected to hold further talks over the next 60 days on the technical details of Iran’s nuclear activities.
The breakthrough follows weeks of intensive diplomacy involving Pakistan and Qatar, and comes despite continued tensions elsewhere in the region, including Israeli military operations in Lebanon. Israel is not a party to the agreement.
The deal has been welcomed as a potentially significant step towards stability in the Middle East, although questions remain over its implementation. Opposition figures and hardliners in Iran have criticised aspects of the accord, arguing that it does not go far enough in securing guarantees for Tehran.
If fully implemented, the agreement would represent the most significant easing of tensions between Washington and Tehran in years and could have far-reaching implications for regional security and global energy markets. (
