There have been so many claims about the Iran War ending that it's hard to believe this one. After the April ceasefire, the United States and Iran repeatedly claimed that a full peace deal was around the corner, only to continue firing in hopes of better terms. But that cycle might actually be over for real now.
U.S. President Donald Trump, the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (who was mediating) all confirmed on Sunday night that the parties had agreed to a memorandum of understanding to move forward with the peace process. The U.S. will immediately lift its blockade of Iranian ports, Iran will begin clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz, and, after a signing ceremony on Friday, the countries will begin negotiations for a permanent peace deal.
This comes just in time to avert a serious economic crisis. The oil tanks in Cushing, Oklahoma, a hub for the American oil trade, were visibly emptying out last week. Iran's own oil production has fallen to its lowest level since the coronavirus pandemic. "Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!" declared Trump on Truth Social. Shipping industry associations say it will take some time to return to normal.
Although the full text of the truce isn't public yet, the broad outline has been confirmed by both sides. The U.S. will issue Iran a 60-day waiver to the U.S. embargo on oil exports, and Iran will suspend its toll on passing Hormuz for 60 days. By the end of the truce period, the negotiations are supposed to produce a solution to the Iranian nuclear program, the future management of Hormuz, and the U.S. economic sanctions on Iran.
In other words, Trump's offer is a lot like former President Barack Obama's offer. Iran can trade away its nuclear capabilities in exchange for integration into the world economy. Ali Ahmadi, a researcher in Turkey, compares the current truce to Obama's 2013 interim agreement that paved the way for the full 2015 deal.
There is, of course, an important difference: Obama's outreach was meant to avoid the threat of war , while Trump's diplomacy is meant to get out of a war that he started.
The set of guarantors has also changed. Obama's deal was designed as a global arrangement that included Russia, China, and Europe. Trump's deal is being negotiated with the help of Iran's neighbors. Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey all assisted Pakistan with the mediation, according to U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Last week, the United Arab Emirates reportedly unfroze Iranian money held in Emirati banks as a goodwill gesture, although the Emirati government denies these reports.
"This Great Deal will bring Peace and Security to the whole Region. Many presidents have tried to make Peace with Iran, and all have failed before me. The Leaders of the Region have, for the first time, found a President who can help them achieve real Peace," Trump claimed on Truth Social .
It's not clear what happens if the 60-day negotiating period expires without a final peace treaty, although nothing is stopping the two sides from extending their truce. If the past three months are any indication, both sides will keep trying to test each other's limits as part of the negotiating process. The point of this week's memorandum is to keep those tests below the level of war.
The most explosive point of disagreement seems to be Lebanon, where the Israeli army is fighting the pro-Iran militia Hezbollah. Iran has been insisting that a ceasefire should also include Lebanon, and is threatening to bomb Israel in response to any Israeli moves on Beirut, the Lebanese capital. On Sunday, after Hezbollah flew drones into northern Israel, the Israeli army bombed Beirut , killing three people.
Iran got ready "to launch a large number of missiles at the Israelis" but called off the attack under U.S. pressure, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance told Fox News on Sunday night. An Iranian source told Amwaj.media that Trump had offered to accelerate the timeline for lifting the blockade if Iran did not attack. Trump also publicly demanded "no more attacks by Israel anywhere in Lebanon" and privately asked Israel to withdraw from Lebanon, according to Israel's Channel 12.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared on Monday that the army will stay in Lebanon "without any time limit" and clear out the Lebanese population from the areas it holds. "Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu made these points clear to U.S. President Trump and to other senior American officials, and I also made this clear yesterday to U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth," he said, adding that "if Iran attacks Israel because of events in Lebanon, we will strike it with full force."
Domestic American hawks have also been trying to stop the peace process. Sunday night, Fox News host Mark Levin brought on former Trump administration official Nathan Sales and Sen. John Fetterman (D–Pa.) to discuss the ceasefire. "Israel will not be ab…
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SlateIndependentCenter5 days agoDonald Trump has signed a deal with Iran aimed at ending the three-and-a-half-month conflict between the United States and the Islamic Republic. While the deal marks an official end to hostilities, there remains uncertainty regarding its specifics, longevity, and future implications. The agreement, referred to as a 'memorandum of understanding,' is described as a starting point for negotiations that could lead to a lasting peace. However, previous ceasefires were unstable, with continued attacks and blockades in key areas such as the Strait of Hormuz.
Bias read (Center): The article presents information without overtly favoring either side, acknowledging uncertainties and providing context about the nature of the deal and past conflicts. There is no clear ideological framing or biased language that leans toward one political perspective over another.
ReasonIndependentCenter6 days agoThe article reports on an agreement between the United States and Iran to move toward a permanent peace deal following a ceasefire in April. Key points include the U.S. lifting its blockade of Iranian ports, Iran beginning to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz, and the initiation of negotiations for a formal peace agreement. The article also mentions concerns about the U.S. oil supply and the potential impact of the agreement on global energy markets.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the developments in a neutral tone, citing multiple parties involved (U.S., Iran, Pakistan) and their actions without overtly favoring any side. It includes direct quotes from officials and references external factors like the state of the oil market, which suggests balanced, if
Official sources cited
- government U.S. President Donald Trump
- government Supreme National Security Council of Iran
- government Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
Breitbart NewsIndependentRight6 days agoPresident Donald Trump confirmed that a peace deal with Iran was 'complete' and stated that the U.S. Navy's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would end. The deal was reportedly reached after 'intensive talks,' and the official signing ceremony was scheduled for June 19 in Switzerland. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also announced the agreement, stating that both sides had declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts.
Bias read (Right): The article presents information primarily through statements made by President Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, emphasizing the completion of the peace deal and the lifting of the naval blockade. The framing highlights Trump's role in achieving the deal and uses celebratory tone,
UN NewsState / PublicCenter7 days agoUnited Nations Secretary-General António Guterres praised a newly announced peace deal between the United States and Iran, describing it as a 'critical step' toward ending the ongoing conflict. The agreement includes provisions for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a framework for future negotiations. Guterres acknowledged the contributions of several regional countries, including Pakistan, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye, in facilitating the talks. He emphasized the importance of continuing efforts toward a lasting resolution and noted UN
Bias read (Center): The article presents a neutral summary of the UN Secretary-General's comments regarding a peace deal between the US and Iran. It does not exhibit biased language, one-sided sourcing, or omission of context. The framing remains objective, focusing on the content of the agreement and the UN's stance.
United States