U.S. and Iran Reach Tentative Deal to End War, but Israel Rejects Lebanon Ceasefire

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the United States and Iran have reached a memorandum of understanding to end the four-month military conflict, declaring the deal "now complete." In a social media post, Trump authorized the immediate removal of the U.S. naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy markets, and instructed global shipping to "start your engines."[1][7]

The agreement marks a sudden diplomatic pivot in a war that began in late February 2026 with Operation Epic Fury—a joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign that resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and triggered massive regional retaliation. Brokered primarily by Pakistan, the preliminary pact is scheduled for a formal signing ceremony on Friday, June 19, in Switzerland.[1][7][8]

The immediate mechanism of the deal focuses on economic and maritime relief. By lifting the blockade on Iranian ports, the U.S. aims to restore the flow of oil, gas, and fertilizer through the Strait of Hormuz, which had been effectively closed to commercial traffic. In response to the announcement, global equity markets rallied and oil futures immediately dropped by 4%.[4][7][8]

However, the memorandum is only a framework. It initiates a 60-day technical negotiation period designed to address the core driver of the conflict: Iran's nuclear program. During this window, U.S. negotiators will demand that Iran dispose of its highly enriched uranium stockpile under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).[4][8]

Within the Trump administration, a sharp divide has emerged over whether Tehran will actually comply with these nuclear demands. Vice President JD Vance has championed the agreement, predicting it will "fundamentally transform the Middle East" and usher in an era of economic prosperity.[4]

Conversely, the U.S. intelligence and defense establishment remains deeply skeptical. CIA Director John Ratcliffe recently briefed the president and senior officials that intelligence assessments raise serious doubts about Iran's willingness to make the required nuclear concessions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have echoed these concerns in internal discussions, highlighting a fracture within Trump's national security team.[3]

The most volatile complication, however, lies not in Geneva or Washington, but in Jerusalem. The U.S.-Iran memorandum explicitly calls for a "permanent and immediate end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon," where Israel has been conducting a deep ground invasion against Hezbollah.[1][5]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has flatly rejected this provision. In a televised address, Netanyahu declared a historic victory over Iran but insisted that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will not withdraw from southern Lebanon. "We established deep security zones around the state of Israel," Netanyahu said, vowing that Israeli troops will remain in Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria "for as long as necessary."[5][6]

Defense Minister Israel Katz reinforced this stance, stating that Israel is not bound by an agreement it did not sign and will continue to dismantle Hezbollah's military infrastructure. This defiance has triggered a rare and public clash between the U.S. and Israel; Trump reportedly criticized Netanyahu over continued Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, warning that they could jeopardize the fragile ceasefire.[5][6]

Domestically, Netanyahu is facing intense political blowback. Opposition leaders, including Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett, have characterized the U.S.-Iran deal as a strategic disaster for Israel. Critics argue that despite the punishing aerial campaign, Iran's proxy network survives, leaving Israel isolated and forced to manage a multi-front war without full U.S. backing.[6][7]

In Tehran, the newly consolidated government under Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei views the deal as a necessary mechanism for economic survival. Iranian officials have emphasized that the agreement was drafted in an atmosphere of "continued distrust," but the immediate lifting of the naval blockade provides a crucial lifeline to a country suffocated by sanctions and war.[1][8]

As Friday's signing ceremony approaches, the international community is holding its breath. Leaders from the United Kingdom to Pakistan have applauded the tentative peace, emphasizing the necessity of restoring freedom of navigation. Yet, with Israel actively defying the Lebanon ceasefire and U.S. intelligence doubting Iran's long-term compliance, the memorandum of understanding represents a pause in hostilities rather than a definitive resolution.[2][3][6]