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US President Donald Trump said on Monday (16 June) that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran has been "all signed" electronically, and the Strait of Hormuz will be “completely open” by Friday (19 June). US officials said the agreement was signed by Trump, US Vice President JD Vance and main Iranian negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. The details of MoU have yet to made fully public, but some details have been selectively leaked. The MoU, brokered in significant part by Pakistan and set to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday, includes a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon, an end to Iranian restrictions on the Strait, a reduction of US military assets from the region, and some relief of sanctions and frozen Iranian assets. Iran's nuclear program (the original justification of the war) is deferred to be decided during the following 60-day period, though the memorandum secured Iran's reaffirmation of its commitment to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The regional welcome was broad and immediate, with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and Türkiye all issuing statements of relief. Yet that relief was calibrated. Gulf capitals had spent three and a half months watching Washington threaten a partner over a waterway, contemplate occupying an island within artillery range of the Iranian mainland, and preside over what they privately called the worst global energy crisis in decades, all while urging restraint behind closed doors. In truth, the memorandum of understanding resolves the immediate crisis. Whether it resolves the deeper question of what kind of security guarantor Washington intends to be is another matter entirely, and the quiet work of building alternative architecture across the region suggests that Gulf capitals are not simply waiting around for the answer. (Read the full briefing by clicking on the image above)

US President Donald Trump has said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran has been "all signed"electronically, and the Strait of Hormuz will be “completely open” by Friday. US officials told the Reuters and AFP news agencies that the agreement was signed by Trump, US Vice President JD Vance and main Iranian negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Tuesday marks 109 days since the war began, with the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran. Here is what’s happening: The details of the MoU between the US and Iran have not yet been made fully public (click image to read more)

The United States and Iran agreed on a deal to halt the war between them.. The Strait of Hormuz  is expected to open on Friday. Last night, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the US and Iran "declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon". He added an official signing ceremony would take place in Switzerland on 19 June . US President Donald Trump said "The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete". He also said in a post on Truth Social that he authorised "the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz", and the removal of the US blockade of Iran’s ports. In a second post, he said the deal would "bring Peace and Security to the whole Region”, and that the opening of the strait would mean “oil will flow on both ends again for the Region, and the World". Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed on state telelvision, that a deal with the US had been finalised and that the official signing would happen in Switzerland on Friday. "An immediate and permanent end to the war and military operations on different fronts including Lebanon will be announced tonight," he said.  But questions will linger until the full final text is made public. (Click image to read the full article)