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Senior U.S. officials said the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war and increase shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while Vice President JD Vance said sanctions relief would depend on verified Iranian commitments.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Senior U.S. officials said Monday that the United States and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending a nearly four-month war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and beginning a new phase of negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief.
The officials said President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf signed the memorandum. A formal signing ceremony is expected Friday.
Speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, one senior U.S. official said shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is already beginning to increase and is expected to rise gradually.
“You will see significant increase in traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, actually starting already, and that will ramp up slowly over time,” the official said.
“We probably won’t return to normal in two weeks, but we will see a significant increase in strait traffic,” the official added.
The United States and Iran said they had agreed to terms ending the war and reopening the critical waterway, a development that brought relief to energy markets. The agreement remains a framework and could depend in part on ending hostilities in Lebanon. It also postpones more detailed talks over Iran’s nuclear program.
The pact represents the most significant breakthrough since the conflict began with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February. The war has killed thousands and disrupted global energy markets.
Trump, speaking Monday alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at the G7 summit in Geneva, said oil prices were falling after the agreement and that the Strait of Hormuz would be fully open in the coming days.
“I think a lot of great things are going to happen in the Middle East right now. And very importantly, the oil is plummeting down and the stock market is shooting up like a rocket today, like record kind of numbers. And the oil is taking its biggest plunge,” Trump said.
Trump said the full text of the memorandum of understanding will be released after it is formally signed Friday. He also said he may or may not attend the signing ceremony.
The agreement drew an immediate demand for more information from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who called on Trump to brief Congress and release details of the deal.
“Senate Democrats have been unwavering in calling for an immediate end to Trump’s Iran war. We’ve been told dozens of times that the war is over. Dozens of times, we have been left disappointed. The American people deserve details and full transparency – what exactly is in this ‘understanding’? Will servicemembers remain in harm’s way?” Schumer wrote.
Schumer said the agreement would require Senate approval and questioned what the United States gained from the war.
“And what have we actually gained here from Trump’s war? The regime is more radical than the previous one. The Strait of Hormuz is under greater Iranian control now than before the war began. The cost of gasoline remains much too high. Trump must release the details publicly, brief Congress immediately, and end this war for good,” he added.
Vance defended the agreement in several media appearances Monday, saying the United States would consider lifting “some” sanctions only if Iran gives a long-term commitment to abandon nuclear weapons ambitions and accepts verification.
During an appearance on ABC News, Vance said any Iranian commitments would have to include “proper verification.”
“On the one hand, if they continue to try to rebuild their nuclear program, this deal ensures they will never have the resources in order to do that. On the other hand, if the Iranians are willing to give a long-term commitment, along with proper verification to giving up that nuclear weapon, we’re willing to welcome them into the world economy, to lift some sanctions, and to turn over a new leaf in that relationship,” Vance said.
Vance also warned against what he called “hardliner propaganda” from Iran and said sanctions relief would be conditioned not only on nuclear commitments but also on Iran’s support for terrorist groups in the Middle East.
In a separate interview, Vance said the agreement achieved the administration’s key goals and could reshape the region.
“I think it’s a big moment for the United States of America, thanks of course to the president’s leadership and the hard work of the entire team,” Vance told “The Big Weekend Show.”
Vance said the agreement, expected to be signed Friday, would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and permanently prevent Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon.
“It’s going to end the war. It’s gonna make the Middle East more investable. It’s going to mean a lot of prosperity, lower energy prices for the American people,” he said.
“This region of the world has been a basket case for my entire life and longer than that, and what the president has really set us up to do is to certainly eliminate the nuclear threat of Iran… but now possibly to build to a new era of Middle East prosperity and success, where it’s not a region of world where the United States has to worry about so much, but where frankly we can generate a lot of prosperity for the American people out of that region,” Vance added.
Vance also said Monday that the United States had signed the agreement “digitally” on Sunday and denied claims that the deal had released funds to Tehran.
“We already signed the deal digitally yesterday and there’s been no money released and that won’t change,” Vance said during an interview on CBS News.
His comments came amid claims that the agreement would unfreeze billions of dollars for Iran.
Vance said the administration plans to release the “full text” of the agreement this week and said some reports about the deal have been inaccurate.
“Sometimes with these agreements, there are some diplomatic protocols, some technical things to work out. But we plan to release the full text this week. We want the American people to see it. But we’ve also seen, of course, some misreporting about what’s actually in the agreement. We’ve seen some accurate reporting about what in the agreement,” Vance said on CBS Mornings.
Vance said the deal “ensures that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon” and reopens the Strait of Hormuz. He rejected reports that the agreement would release billions in frozen assets to Iran.
“That’s not true,” Vance said. “What is true is that Iran will have a much better and much more prosperous future if they meet the obligations they make in this agreement. We’ll of course see that’s one of the things we’re going to work out in the technical talks that will follow the official signing on Friday.”
Trump also declared Monday that ships were beginning to move through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Ships are starting to move, many loaded up with Oil, out of the Strait of Hormuz. They are going along the Southern ‘Highway,’ which is totally safe, secure, and pristine. There are other areas of travel, also!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The agreement also prompted reaction in Israel. Opposition leader Yair Lapid called Monday for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign, saying Netanyahu mishandled diplomacy with the United States and allowed a deal that does not benefit Israel.
“The State of Israel won the battle, Netanyahu lost the war. The Israel Defense Forces fulfilled its missions, Netanyahu did not deliver the goods. He collapsed at the moment of truth,” Lapid wrote on X.
“If, in the midst of the war, you drive the President of the United States crazy with your pardon issues, don’t be surprised if he turns on you the moment your interests conflict. That’s what he understood from you and heard from you—that everything is about interests and you’re not there for the right reasons,” Lapid continued.
“On October 7, 2023, we learned that Netanyahu can no longer protect the security and lives of Israeli citizens. On June 15, 2026, we learned that he can no longer conduct a diplomatic campaign. It’s time for a different government; it’s time for him to step off the stage,” he added.
Macron said Monday that French forces are prepared to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and assist with mine-clearing operations. Speaking on French television TF1 before welcoming Trump and other leaders to the G7 summit, Macron said France and other European countries are “ready to take action very quickly.”
“We already have forces in the area,” Macron said, referring to France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle.
“We are ready to take action very quickly … to send aircraft, deploy a frigate, send mine-clearing vessels. We also have our aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, along with its accompanying strike group, which remains in the region and could be deployed within two or three days following confirmation” of the deal, he said.
The agreement is now expected to move into a technical phase after Friday’s ceremony. U.S. officials said shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz should continue increasing, while Vance said the administration will seek verified Iranian concessions before sanctions relief is granted.
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