Trump Says Iran Deal ‘Now Complete’ Blockade To End, Hormuz To Open
By RFE RL
US President Donald Trump said a peace deal with Iran is “now complete” and that he has ordered an end to the naval blockade of Iran’s ports in exchange for the free flow of traffic through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
“The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete,” he wrote on Truth Social on June 14.
“Congratulations to all! 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.”
Iran appeared to confirm that a deal had been reached, with its deputy foreign minister saying the “immediate and permanent end to the war and military operations on various fronts, including Lebanon, will be announced starting tonight,” according to state-run Tasnim news agency.
However, the Fars news agency — which is close to the hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), said that “it has been decided that marine traffic through the Gulf will be regulated by Iran in coordination with Oman,” remarks that would be counter to Trump’s earlier comments.
Separately, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that a peace agreement had been reached, saying: “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.”
“Both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” Sharif said on X.
Sharif, whose country has been working as a mediator in the talks between Washington and Tehran, said a signing ceremony would be held on June 19 in Switzerland.
Trump earlier told the Wall Street Journal that the deal would either be signed electronically by himself or by Vice President JD Vance.
Throughout the day, Iran had suggested that while it believes a deal was close, it would still take more days to finalize.
Iran has insisted that an end to fighting in Lebanon be included in any deal.
Israel has maintained its offensive against the Hezbollah militant group in southern Lebanon.
Iran-backed Hezbollah, a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon, is considered a terrorist organization by the US, while the European Union has blacklisted its armed wing but not its political branch.
No Nuclear Weapon, Opening Of Hormuz
Trump told the WSJ that the deal would include an agreement by Tehran not to obtain a nuclear weapon and to immediately open the Strait of Hormuz, through which some 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supplies flowed prewar.
The WSJ report added that Trump expressed “no urgency” to extract nuclear material Iran, saying that would come later.
