US and Iran reach agreement to end war

The United States and Iran have reached an agreement to immediately end the war in the Middle East on all fronts, including Lebanon, the Pakistani mediator announced on Monday, with Washington and Tehran confirming immediately.

“The agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now finalized,” wrote American President Donald Trump on his Truth Social network a few minutes after the Pakistani announcement.

“I fully authorize the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without rights of passage and, at the same time, the immediate lifting of the American naval blockade. Ships around the world, start the engines. Let the oil flow freely!”, he welcomed, adding that this opening will take place “as soon as the agreement is signed on Friday to allow mine clearance.”

The announcement triggered an immediate fall in oil prices, which had jumped since the outbreak of war on February 28 and the blockage of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s hydrocarbon trade normally passed.

The memorandum of understanding with the United States provides for “the immediate and definitive end of the war and military operations on the various fronts, including in Lebanon”, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi declared on state television.

“Negotiations will begin within 60 days with a view to reaching a final agreement,” he said, listing four topics for future discussions: the lifting of sanctions against Iran, the nuclear issue, “reconstruction” and “the economic development” of the country, as well as “the establishment of a monitoring mechanism” of the commitments made.

The Iranian Mehr news agency also reported a text, which has not been officially confirmed, according to which the agreement provides for “the release of 24 billion dollars of frozen Iranian assets during the 60-day negotiation period”, half of which before the start of talks.

A signing ceremony for the agreement will take place on Friday June 19 in Geneva, said Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a key mediator in the Middle East war. US Vice President JD Vance said he planned to attend, and that Donald Trump’s participation was “possible”.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed the agreement, “a crucial step towards a peaceful settlement of the conflict”, according to him.

Iran has “imposed its divine and steel will on humiliated American and Zionist enemies. The enemy has no choice but to accept defeat and surrender,” the Iranian general staff welcomed for its part in a press release broadcast on television of state.

Shortly before the announcement of the agreement, Iran’s highest security body, the Supreme National Security Council, had nevertheless warned on

– “Furious” –

Donald Trump had estimated earlier on his Truth Social network that the Israeli attack “should not have taken place, especially on this special day”, Sunday marking his 80th birthday.

“I was furious,” he then confided to the media Axios, claiming to have reprimanded the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu: “He has no fucking judgment. I let him know that.”

Israel, which fears a compromise that would not meet its demands regarding its sworn enemy Iranian, indicated that it had responded to Hezbollah drone attacks against its territory.

Under pressure in his country to end an unpopular conflict which has also shaken the world economy, Donald Trump is due to meet this week with the leaders of the other great powers at the G7 summit in Evian, France.

“The objective will be to see the consequences of this agreement, the support for Lebanon, the reopening of Hormuz over time, and obviously the conclusion of an agreement on nuclear and ballistics in Iran,” declared French President Emmanuel Macron after the announcement of an agreement.

In a joint statement, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy said they were “ready to lift relevant sanctions in response to clear and verifiable steps by Iran regarding its nuclear program.”

Triggered on February 28 by American-Israeli strikes, the war set the Middle East ablaze and left thousands dead, mainly in Iran and Lebanon.

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