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Iran will allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and the US will end its naval blockade as a starting step.
BY Mahnoor | 18-06-2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Thursday that US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have electronically signed the ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
‘ In a post on X, Sharif explained that both presidents signed the agreement and he approved it as the mediator.
He said the agreement starts right away. As a first step, Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and the US will end its naval blockade.
He congratulated Trump and his team, including JD Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner. He also thanked Iran’s leaders, Mojtaba Khamenei and Pezeshkian, for their wisdom and for choosing peace.
“I also want to thank the Iranian negotiating team, including Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Abbas Araghchi, and Eskandar Momeni. Their patience and hard work were key to making this agreement happen,” he said.
Shehbaz also thanked Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Egypt for their help.
The Prime Minister’s Office announced that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Islamabad agreement on Thursday as a guarantor.
Presidents of the US and Iran sign a peace deal in Versailles
On Wednesday, the US and Iran shared the details of the agreement their leaders signed to end their war.
US President Donald Trump threatened to attack and kill Iranian officials if they did not keep their promises.
While at a meeting in France, Trump also changed his reason for attacking Iran. He previously said he would destroy their missiles, but now says it would be “unfair” if Iran did not have them.
Trump said at a press conference that the US will attack Iran if they break their agreement. He said he wants them to follow the deal instead. He called Iranians “smart people” while officials work on a long-term peace deal over the next 60 days. Trump hopes this will bring peace to the Middle East and make oil cheaper.
He had previously threatened: “If they do not behave, we will bomb them directly again.”
While celebrating, Iran’s leaders did not mention these new threats. They released photos of what is thought to be the first agreement signed by both a US and Iranian president since 1979.
Iran’s main negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, told state TV that they achieved much more through talking than they ever could have through war. He was discussing an agreement that releases billions of dollars in frozen Iranian money.
On February 28, the US and Israel started a war against Iran, killing the 86-year-old leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several military commanders on the first day. The war spread across the region, killing over 7,000 people, mostly in Iran and Lebanon. It also caused energy prices to rise, increased inflation, and raised fears of food shortages in poorer nations.
A new 14-point agreement has extended a ceasefire—originally set in April—for another 60 days, including in Lebanon, to give both sides time to negotiate a permanent peace. US President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the deal in English and Farsi. Iran confirmed the agreement began on Wednesday.
Trump signed this right before a big dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles, where the treaty that ended World War I was signed.
Trump also took back his February promise to destroy all of Iran’s missiles and wipe out their missile industry. After a meeting in Paris, Trump told reporters that if other countries have missiles, it is somewhat unfair if Iran does not have any.
One person dies in an Israeli attack in Lebanon, even though a US-Iran deal has started
On Thursday, an Israeli drone hit a car in southern Lebanon, killing one person and seriously injuring another.
This happened even though a US-Iran agreement to stop fighting in Lebanon had just begun. According to Lebanese news, the strike occurred near a roundabout in the Nabatieh area.
This event happened while tensions remained high on the border between Lebanon and Israel. This is despite a recent agreement between the US and Iran intended to stop fighting after Israel and the US attacked Iran on February 28.
Iranian leaders have said that stopping Israeli military actions in the region, especially in Lebanon, is a main goal of the upcoming deal between Iran and the US.
Israel is still holding onto parts of southern Lebanon. Some areas have been occupied for many years, while others were taken during the recent fighting. In the latest military action, Israeli troops moved more than 10 kilometers into Lebanon.
Switzerland says Iran and the US will meet this Friday
The Swiss government said on Thursday that the U.S. and Iran will start talks this Friday at a resort in Switzerland. This follows a ceasefire agreement signed between the two countries.
Currently, the US and Iran are still planning to meet tomorrow in Buergenstock to start talks on how to follow the agreement. Pakistan, Qatar, and other countries will help mediate.
The Swiss foreign ministry stated that no specific details or schedules for this meeting have been released yet.
China asks the US and Iran to follow the agreement made in Islamabad
On Thursday, China asked the US and Iran to follow the agreement signed by President Donald Trump and President Masoud Pezeshkian.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, said this first step between the two countries is a good way to reduce tension and help keep a ceasefire going.
Pakistan has been helping the two fighting sides talk since April 8, following the war started by the US and Israel against Iran. The agreement between Islamabad and Tehran is now active immediately after Trump and Pezeshkian signed it electronically overnight between Wednesday and Thursday.
China welcomed the deal and urged both sides to follow the agreement and keep their promises.
“Using force is not the answer,” Lin said. “Talking as equals is the right way.”
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a new agreement in Islamabad. He said that if this happens, Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and the United States will end its naval blockade immediately.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said they hope the US and Iran will be reasonable and practical in their next talks, working together toward a shared goal.
G7 leaders support the Iran agreement
G7 leaders praised the deal during their meeting in Evian-les-Bains, France. This town is near Lake Geneva, where the US expected a formal signing ceremony for the US-Iran agreement to take place in Switzerland this Friday.
However, Iranian spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei disagreed. He told news outlets that since the two presidents had already signed the deal, no ceremony would be held in Switzerland.
European leaders agree with the US that Iran’s nuclear program is a problem. However, they never supported the US decision to go to war without UN permission. They also worry that Iran is becoming stronger by surviving US pressure and controlling key shipping routes.
Leaders from several countries, including the US, UK, and France, issued a joint statement calling for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon. This follows fighting between Israel and Hezbollah that has killed thousands and forced over a million people from their homes.
Fighting has slowed down but has not stopped since Sunday’s agreement. Israel was not part of the talks and its military still occupies southern Lebanon, so it says it can still use force.
Iran says the agreement with the US is now official after both presidents signed it
An Iranian official stated that the ‘Islamabad memorandum’ is now official after being signed by both Iran and the United States.
According to the news, the agreement will be signed digitally. The talks will focus only on nuclear issues and lifting sanctions.
He said both sides would talk for up to 60 days, but might take longer if the issues are too difficult. However, he stated that Iran’s missile program would not be part of the discussion. He added that Iran’s missiles are for defense only and will not be discussed with anyone.
The spokesperson said the US has started to lift its naval blockade. This follows emergency talks after Israel attacked southern Beirut and Iran threatened to strike back.
He noted that Iranian ships have already entered and left ports easily, which shows the US agreement is working.
Baghaei stated that Iran will honor its agreements regarding the Strait of Hormuz once the official memo is signed and put into effect. Regarding Lebanon, he said Iran stays loyal to its allies.
He also noted that, according to Al Jazeera, it is the US’s job to make sure Israel follows its promises to Iran.
Baghaei said Iran will not send its highly enriched uranium to other countries. He mentioned that thinning out the material is one way to prevent other risky options.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Baghaei said Iran and Oman will create new rules for the area and will charge fees for services provided there.
Netanyahu says no to the ceasefire deal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has separated Israel from a US-Iran deal because of how he is fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon. The two leaders have disagreed because Israel refuses to stop its attacks on Hezbollah, even though Iran wants the fighting to end.
Trump told reporters about Netanyahu, saying, ‘You don’t have to destroy a whole building just because someone from Hezbollah walks into it.’
Lebanese media reported that Israel attacked several towns in the south with planes and artillery on Wednesday. Lebanese security officials said Hezbollah also sent two drones toward Israeli forces, though the group did not officially admit to it.
Israel later confirmed that five of its soldiers were hurt by these two drone attacks.
An Israeli soldier died from a Hezbollah bomb
According to Al Jazeera, The Times of Israel reported that an Israeli military investigation found a soldier died from a Hezbollah explosive device in southern Lebanon.
The incident happened at 5 p.m. on Wednesday while soldiers from the 36th Division were walking near the Litani River. The military stated that 29-year-old soldier Alexander Filin was killed and seven others were injured.
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