US and Iran reach deal, signing expected Friday

WASHINGTON — A deal to end the war between the United States and Iran has been reached, the two parties and mediator Pakistan said Sunday. 

“The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all!” President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post. 

In a separate post, Trump said the Strait of Hormuz will open Friday after the deal is signed. The vital waterway, through which 20% of the world’s oil transited before the war, has been effectively shut by Iran since the United States and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28. 

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country was a key mediator, said in a social media post that a signing ceremony would take place in Switzerland on Friday. 

“Following intensive talks, we are pleased to announce that the Peace Deal between the United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran has been REACHED,” Sharif said. “Both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.”

Sharif added that the mediators would facilitate a series of “pre-implementation” meetings this week to pave the way for technical talks and the deal’s signing ceremony. 

“Let the oil flow,” Trump wrote in his Truth Social post announcing the deal. “I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade. Ships of the World, start your engines,” Trump wrote.

In remarks carried by state television, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the deal had been finalized and would be signed on Friday. 

“Starting tonight, the US naval blockade against Iran will be terminated,” Gharibabadi added. 

The official terms of the deal were not made public. On Friday, a senior administration official briefing reporters said the interim deal would involve Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and the United States lifting its naval blockade.

Once signed, the memorandum of understanding would trigger a 60-day period for technical negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, including its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, the official said. Iran has long maintained its nuclear program exists for peaceful purposes only, but has not said publicly that it will dispose of its enriched material. 

The announcement came hours after Trump criticized an Israeli strike in Beirut on Sunday that was launched in response to Hezbollah’s firing several drones at northern Israel. Iran had insisted that its deal with the United States include Lebanon, where Israeli strikes against Hezbollah have killed more than 3,700 people since March 2, according to Lebanese authorities. 

Officials from Lebanon and Israel are scheduled to meet for another round of direct talks in Washington on June 22. 

This developing story has been updated since initial publication.