The Strait of Hormuz, the "throat" of global oil transportation, has long been shrouded in the shadow of military blockade and toll collection. In the early hours of June 15, 2026, Beijing time, news from Pakistan shook the international community—the United States and Iran, after multiple rounds of intensive consultations, finally reached a historic peace agreement. Can this document, titled the "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding," truly bring lasting peace to the Middle East?

I. Agreement finalized: Late-night official announcement following multi-party mediation

Early on June 15th local time, a major piece of news emerged from Pakistan. Pakistani Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif announced that after several rounds of intensive and in-depth consultations and negotiations, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran had finally reached a historic peace agreement. Prime Minister Sharif further revealed that, based on the current agreement, the mediators will actively promote several follow-up meetings this week to ensure the smooth implementation of the agreement's terms.

Almost simultaneously, US President Trump also made a public statement on the matter. He confirmed that the relevant agreement with Iran had been finalized. Trump emphasized that this "great agreement" would bring peace and security to the entire Middle East and announced that the Strait of Hormuz would be open for toll-free passage. He also revealed that the agreement would be signed electronically to reflect modernity and efficiency.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi announced in the early hours of the morning that the text of the Iran-US agreement, named the "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding," had been finalized, and the formal signing ceremony was scheduled for Friday, June 19, in Switzerland. Gharibabadi pointed out that, starting from the night of June 15 local time, military operations on all fronts would be permanently and immediately terminated, including the long-standing and volatile Lebanese front; simultaneously, the US naval blockade against Iran would be fully lifted that night. Iran's commitments would begin to be fulfilled after the agreement was formally signed on Friday.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council also issued a statement confirming that the text of the memorandum of understanding had been completed and reiterated the timetable for the ceasefire and the lifting of the maritime blockade. The council also emphasized that further negotiations on a final agreement could only begin after the other party had fully implemented the commitments contained in the memorandum of understanding.

II. Core Contents of the Agreement: A Comprehensive Arrangement from the Strait of Hormuz to the Nuclear Issue

According to the core terms of the draft memorandum of understanding disclosed by various parties, the agreement covers a wide range of detailed arrangements, involving several key areas such as military, economy, shipping and nuclear energy.

On the military and security front, a permanent ceasefire was immediately implemented on all fronts, including the Lebanese front. The United States pledged not to interfere in Iran's internal affairs and to respect the national sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Furthermore, the United States pledged to withdraw its military forces deployed in the region surrounding Iran. Regarding the highly sensitive Strait of Hormuz, the agreement stipulated that it would be placed under Iranian control and that navigation would resume within 30 days. Trump further stated that the memorandum of understanding would suspend toll collection on the strait for 60 days, while the final agreement would ensure permanent free passage.

Regarding economic and sanctions matters, the United States will fully lift its naval blockade against Iran within 30 days, while suspending sanctions on Iranian oil, petrochemical products, and related derivatives, allowing Iran to fully utilize its frozen funds and assets. More importantly, the United States and its allies must submit a reconstruction aid package totaling no less than $300 billion to support Iran's post-war economic recovery. The $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets will be unfrozen within the 60-day negotiation period, with half of the funds to be disbursed to Iran before negotiations begin.

Regarding the nuclear issue and negotiations for a final agreement, both sides will conduct 60 days of talks to finalize an agreement on the nuclear issue. Iran reiterated its commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and pledged not to develop nuclear weapons. During this period, the United States pledged not to increase its troop presence in the region or to impose new sanctions. The final agreement needs to be confirmed by a UN Security Council resolution. Notably, issues such as Iran's missile program and support for resistance groups have been completely excluded from the negotiation agenda, which is considered a significant diplomatic achievement for Iran.

III. A flurry of statements from all sides: from cheers of a "major victory" to reservations.

The agreement, once announced, immediately triggered a strong reaction from the international community. US Vice President Vance, unable to hide his excitement, stated that he would personally travel to Geneva to attend the signing ceremony, and President Trump might also attend. Vance emphasized that Iran had assured the US that it would not retaliate against Israel. He confidently declared, "I think we can confidently say that Iran will never possess nuclear weapons. Tonight is a major victory."

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi adopted a pragmatic and cautious stance in his statement. He pointed out that signing the memorandum of understanding did not equate to trust in the "enemy," but rather reflected Iran's diplomatic position based on risk prevention. He emphasized that the results Iran achieved far outweighed the commitments made. Gharibabadi also warned that if the other side "violates the agreement," Iran will take corresponding measures, and the Iranian armed forces "always have the trigger firmly in hand." Regarding the 60-day negotiations, he stated that the focus would be on lifting sanctions against Iran, a mechanism for Iran's economic reconstruction, and establishing a verification mechanism to monitor the parties' compliance. The nuclear issue will also be discussed in this round of negotiations.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warmly welcomed the agreement reached between the US and Iran. He congratulated President Trump and the mediators from Pakistan, Qatar, and other regions on their contributions to this breakthrough. At the same time, Starmer reiterated Britain's firm stance: Iran must never possess nuclear weapons, and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be restored immediately without tolls. Subsequently, the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, and Italy issued a joint statement, also emphasizing that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons and reaffirming their full support for Lebanon's stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

The Qatari Prime Minister issued a statement welcoming the Memorandum of Understanding and expressing gratitude to friends from all sectors of Pakistan and all parties who created favorable conditions for reaching the consensus. He called on all parties to participate in subsequent negotiations in a positive and constructive manner, consolidate existing achievements, and promote the situation towards a more stable and lasting direction.

However, not all parties involved are satisfied with this. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu made it clear to US President Trump that Israel is not bound by the Lebanon provisions of the US-Iran agreement. Netanyahu emphasized that the Israel Defense Forces will not withdraw from Lebanon, will continue to hold their existing positions, and will continue military operations against Hezbollah. This statement adds significant uncertainty to the implementation of the agreement.

IV. Behind-the-scenes details and future challenges: From "avoiding birthdays" to ship backlogs

Behind this diplomatic maneuver, some intriguing details are gradually emerging. According to two Iranian officials who spoke to The New York Times, Iran deliberately chose to finalize the agreement with the United States after midnight Washington time—that is, in the early hours of June 15th local time—in order to avoid President Trump's birthday. The officials explained that the 7.5-hour time difference between the two locations allowed Iran and the United States to interpret the timing of the agreement's formal finalization differently.

Furthermore, US media revealed that Iran had previously planned a military strike against Israel in response to Israel's airstrike on Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. This plan was ultimately cancelled because Trump, through a third-party mediator, sent a message to Iran urging it to exercise restraint. Nevertheless, analysts point out that tensions between Iran and Israel remain, and the prospects for the ongoing peace agreement negotiations between the US and Iran still face many uncertainties.

According to sources, following the US-Iran agreement, the large number of ships that have been backlogged in the Strait of Hormuz due to its long-term blockade may take several weeks to clear and restore normal navigation. This means that even with the political agreement signed, the actual resumption of navigation will still face significant logistical challenges.

According to The New York Times, Iran's chief negotiator and parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Ghalibaf, and Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi will travel to Geneva to sign the agreement. US Vice President Vance will attend as the US representative. This will be the highest-level meeting between Iran and the United States in 47 years, since the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution and the hostage crisis at the US embassy in Iran, which led to the severing of diplomatic relations. According to Araqchi, the agreement will also explicitly state that Iran and the United States respect each other's sovereignty and will not interfere in each other's internal affairs.

V. Outlook: The Road to Peace Remains Long and Arduous

This "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding" is unprecedented in the modern diplomatic history of the Middle East in terms of its breadth of scope and the complexity of the interests involved. From a permanent ceasefire to free passage through the Straits, from $300 billion in reconstruction aid to 60 days of negotiations on the nuclear issue, the agreement provides a clear roadmap for easing regional tensions.

However, challenges remain. Israel has explicitly rejected the Lebanon provisions in the agreement, and the Netanyahu government insists on not withdrawing troops and continuing its attacks on Hezbollah, which could reignite fighting on the Lebanese front. While Iran has pledged not to develop nuclear weapons, the handling of enriched materials and uranium enrichment activities during the 60-day negotiations will remain a thorny issue. Furthermore, domestic political factors in the United States could also affect the long-term implementation of the agreement—Trump has explicitly warned that he will resume military action if Iran ultimately fails to reach a nuclear agreement.

As Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi stated, "Our achievements far exceed our promises," but whether this agreement can truly bring lasting peace to the Middle East remains to be seen. The signing ceremony in Geneva on June 19 may only be the beginning of a long and tortuous process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Why were the US and Iran able to suddenly reach a peace agreement at this time?

A: The immediate impetus was Iran's planned military strike against Israel in response to the Israeli airstrike on Beirut. Trump intervened urgently through a third-party mediator, urging Iran to exercise restraint and using this as an opportunity to initiate comprehensive negotiations. Furthermore, the active mediation of countries like Pakistan and Qatar provided channels of communication for both sides. The deeper reason lies in the fact that the US wanted to ease tensions in the Middle East to lower energy prices and focus on other strategic challenges; Iran, suffering from economic difficulties due to long-term sanctions, urgently needed to unfreeze its assets and obtain reconstruction aid. Both sides found common ground in their mutually destructive predicament.

Question 2: What are the specific provisions of the agreement regarding the passage fees for the Strait of Hormuz?

A: According to Trump's statements and the draft memorandum, the agreement adopts a two-phase arrangement. First, the toll collection fee in the Strait of Hormuz will be suspended immediately after the memorandum takes effect, for a period of 60 days. Based on this, both sides will ensure permanent free passage through the Strait in the final agreement. This means that no country or armed force may charge fees or obstruct vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz under any pretext. It should be noted that Iran had previously imposed restrictions on passage through the Strait due to blockade and security reasons; this agreement aims to restore the right of innocent passage and freedom of navigation under international law.

Question 3: Why did Israel publicly oppose the agreement? What actions did Netanyahu take?

A: Israel's core concern is security. Netanyahu believes that the Lebanon provisions in the agreement (requiring a ceasefire on all fronts) could restrict the Israeli military's freedom of action against Hezbollah. Furthermore, Israel fears that the funds Iran receives after the easing of tensions could indirectly support its proxy forces in the region. Therefore, Netanyahu explicitly told Trump that Israel is not bound by the Lebanon provisions in the agreement and announced that the Israeli military will not withdraw from Lebanon, will continue to hold its existing positions, and will continue military operations against Hezbollah. Trump described Netanyahu as "difficult" to persuade, but ultimately facilitated the agreement.

Question 4: How is Iran's nuclear issue resolved in the agreement? Has Iran abandoned its nuclear weapons program?

A: The agreement does not require Iran to immediately dismantle all its nuclear facilities, but rather sets aside a 60-day negotiation period specifically for discussing the nuclear issue. Iran has reiterated its adherence to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons. The final agreement will focus on three main areas: the disposal of enriched materials and uranium enrichment activities, the complete lifting of US sanctions, and Iran's economic reconstruction. Notably, Iran's missile program and support for resistance groups have been explicitly excluded from the negotiation agenda, which is seen as a major diplomatic victory for Iran. Gharibabadi emphasized that Iran will only agree to sign the final agreement after all its demands are written into the text.

Question 5: Who will oversee the execution of the agreement? What are the consequences if one party breaches the agreement?

A: According to the draft memorandum, both sides will establish a dedicated mechanism for monitoring the implementation of the agreement, and the final agreement will require confirmation by a UN Security Council resolution to obtain guarantees under international law. Regarding responses to potential breaches, Iran has adopted an extremely cautious stance: Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi explicitly warned that if the other side breaches the agreement, Iran will take appropriate measures independently, and the Iranian armed forces will "always have the trigger firmly in hand." The Trump administration, on the other hand, has threatened to restart military strikes against Tehran if Iran fails to reach a final nuclear agreement. This design of mutually reserving the right to retaliate makes the implementation of the agreement highly dependent on the accumulation of mutual trust between the two sides over the next 60 days.