KABUL (Pajhwok): US President Donald Trump says the United States and Iran have signed a preliminary agreement aimed at ending the conflict in the Gulf, although details of the deal have not yet been made public.
According to Reuters, the agreement would extend a fragile ceasefire announced in April by another 60 days and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively blocked since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran in February.
Negotiators are expected to address more complex issues, including the future of Iran’s nuclear programme, during the next phase of talks.
“The deal’s all signed,” Trump said after arriving in France for a summit of the G7 nations. He added that Vice President JD Vance would attend a formal signing ceremony in Geneva on Friday.
Oil prices fell to their lowest level since March 10 following news of the agreement. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil trade passes — had disrupted global energy markets.
However, many aspects of the agreement remain unclear, including whether its provisions differ significantly from those contained in the April ceasefire arrangement.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described the US-Iran memorandum of understanding as an “important step” toward ending the fighting. However, he noted that a final agreement securing a lasting truce “has yet to take shape.”
Speaking to CNN, Vance said the signed memorandum was only about one-and-a-half pages long and remained a broad framework document.
“It is a very general document,” he said, adding that further details would be released within the next two days.
Vance said the memorandum includes “a very significant sanctions relief package” for Iran.
US and Iranian officials say the agreement could eventually bring substantial economic benefits to Iran through sanctions relief, the unfreezing of foreign assets, and the establishment of a $300 billion reconstruction fund financed by neighbouring Gulf states that host US military bases.
Iran has insisted that the deal requires a complete cessation of hostilities. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would maintain its military presence in southern Lebanon and retain the right to respond to attacks by Hezbollah.
“Iran wanted us to withdraw from it, but I stood firm,” Netanyahu said at a news conference, where he acknowledged differences with Trump over the conflict. Israel has not directly participated in the peace talks with Iran.
Security sources said on Monday that fighting in Lebanon had subsided following the announcement of the agreement but had not ended entirely.
Lebanese state media reported that an Israeli drone struck a vehicle in the southern town of Kfar Tebnit, killing the driver. Netanyahu said Israeli forces had killed four “militants.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Israeli attacks must cease immediately.
sa
