Donald Trump
Olamilekan Abayomi
United States President Donald Trump announced on Sunday, June 15, 2026, that a peace deal with Iran had been reached and that he had authorized the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz along with the removal of the U.S. naval blockade. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all! I hereby fully authorise the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorise the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade. Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!” He framed the agreement as a historic breakthrough, saying many presidents had tried to make peace with Iran and failed before him.
Iran confirmed key elements of the deal through Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, who said there would be a permanent end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, effective immediately. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif first publicized the agreement, stating that both sides declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts following intensive talks. The official signing ceremony is scheduled for June 19 in Switzerland, and the text of the Memorandum of Understanding will be made public only after the agreement is signed.
The deal seeks to end a war that began on February 28, 2026, when the U.S. and Israel launched an assault on Iran. That conflict killed thousands across the Middle East, caused economic turmoil worldwide, and drew in countries with pro-Iran factions such as Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen. Iran responded by effectively shutting the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that carried about one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies before the war. The U.S. then imposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports starting April 14, 2026, after peace talks collapsed.
Under the announced terms, the U.S. naval blockade ends immediately and Iran will reopen the Strait for purposes of mine removal so oil can flow again. Trump said the reopening would be “toll free” and declared that “oil will flow on both ends again for the Region, and the World!”. Iran’s National Security Council said final deal talks will start after the U.S. fulfills commitments under the memorandum, including lifting the naval blockade, ending the state of war, and releasing Iran’s frozen funds. Gharibabadi stressed that the document should not be interpreted as a sign of trust in Washington.
The Strait of Hormuz had been virtually shut since the war began, triggering disruptions that pushed up commodity prices around the world. Lloyd’s List reported that traffic halted after Iranian forces fired on several ships, and at least two vessels reported being hit by gunfire while attempting to cross. The U.S. Central Command said that during the blockade no ships made it past U.S. forces and six merchant vessels were turned back in the first 24 hours. Oil markets reacted immediately to the announcement: Brent crude futures fell 4% and West Texas Intermediate slid more than 4.6% in early trading on Monday.
Trump also used the announcement to warn Iran, telling The New York Times that the U.S. could restart military operations or become “the guardian of the Middle East” in exchange for 20 percent of the region’s revenues. He said the agreement allows 60 days to negotiate issues around Iran’s nuclear program. Neither side addressed the nuclear issue directly in their initial statements, though Iran has insisted on its right to a civilian nuclear program and denied seeking a weapon. Former Biden administration officials noted that the U.S. made concessions to return largely to the status quo before the war.
Pakistan played a central mediating role, with Sharif announcing that the peace pact had been achieved after exhaustive deliberations. Iran said its commitments would begin after the formal signing on Friday. Gharibabadi claimed victory for Iran and said the peace deal was indebted to Iran’s military achievements and “the pure blood of the martyrs” given in confronting enemies. The agreement, if fully implemented, would end hostilities that cost U.S. taxpayers $30 billion and sent global energy prices soaring.
For now, the memorandum remains tentative, with implementation hinging on verification of each side’s commitments. Iran stated that the maritime blockade against it should end immediately and entirely, while the U.S. said it had already authorized the removal of its blockade. Trump, celebrating his 80th birthday on the day of the announcement, called it a “Great Deal” that will bring peace and security to the whole region. The coming 60-day negotiation period will determine whether the Strait stays open, sanctions are lifted, and the nuclear issue is resolved, or whether tensions over the waterway and Iran’s program return.
