U.S. and Iran Sign 60-Day Truce to Reopen Strait of Hormuz, but Israel Defies Lebanon Ceasefire

The United States and Iran have signed a sweeping 14-point memorandum of understanding, pausing a devastating 110-day conflict that has crippled global energy markets. Brokered by the Trump administration and signed during the G7 summit at the Palace of Versailles, the preliminary agreement establishes a 60-day window to negotiate a permanent treaty.[3]

The immediate centerpiece of the deal is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Under the terms dictated by U.S. officials, the United States will immediately lift its naval blockade, while Tehran has agreed to allow toll-free passage for commercial vessels for the next two months.[2][4]

President Donald Trump celebrated the signing on Truth Social, declaring the deal complete and urging the global shipping industry to resume operations. "Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!" the president wrote, framing the MOU as a massive victory for the global economy.[4][5]

The economic relief was palpable almost immediately. By Thursday, maritime tracking data showed 25 commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz—the highest daily volume seen since mid-April.[1]

However, the physical reality of reopening the waterway remains complex. The Strait has been heavily mined during the 110-day war, and naval explosive ordnance disposal teams face a monumental task in clearing the shipping lanes. Experts warn that the underwater threat could outlast the diplomatic agreements, complicating the rapid resumption of pre-war traffic levels.[7]

Furthermore, Tehran is already testing the boundaries of the agreement. A newly formed Iranian agency, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), issued a directive on Friday demanding that all transiting ships hold an insurance policy explicitly approved by Tehran.[1]

The PGSA document also insists that vessels must request permission from the agency and follow strictly approved routes around Larak Island, signaling that Iran intends to maintain tight administrative control over the chokepoint despite the U.S. mandate for "free passage."[1]

Beyond the maritime concessions, the most explosive element of the MOU is its attempt to dictate terms to actors who were not in the room. Paragraph 1 of the agreement declares an "immediate and permanent termination of all military operations on every front, including in Lebanon."[3]

This provision effectively requires Iran to rein in Hezbollah, but it also demands that Israel halt its ongoing military campaign in southern Lebanon. The inclusion of Lebanon has infuriated the Israeli government, which was excluded from the U.S.-Iran negotiations and does not consider itself bound by the text.[2][5]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vehemently rejected the concept of accommodation with Tehran, viewing the MOU as a capitulation that leaves Israel dangerously exposed. In Jerusalem, the prevailing view among the defense establishment is that Iran conceded nothing tangible regarding its nuclear program or proxy networks in exchange for the withdrawal of U.S. forces.[5]

Defying the U.S.-brokered truce, the Israel Defense Forces launched fresh strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon early Friday morning, citing "repeated violations" by the militant group.[1][6]

The Israeli strikes prompted a swift public rebuke from President Trump, who took to social media to demand compliance. "We expect a complete Ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel," Trump stated, urging all regional players to allow the negotiations to "beautifully unfold."[1]

The diplomatic friction is already threatening the fragile 60-day negotiation window. A planned follow-up meeting in Switzerland, which was scheduled to include U.S. Vice President JD Vance, was abruptly canceled on Friday, though lower-level talks are reportedly shifting to Cairo.[1]

The ultimate success of the MOU hinges on resolving the core issues deferred to the 60-day window: constraining Iran's nuclear ambitions, addressing its ballistic missile program, and finalizing a proposed $300 billion U.S.-backed economic reconstruction plan for Tehran.[3][4]

For now, the agreement has achieved its primary goal of halting direct U.S.-Iran hostilities and unlocking the world's most critical oil chokepoint. But with Israel actively defying the Lebanon ceasefire and Iran imposing new bureaucratic hurdles on shipping, the path to a permanent treaty remains heavily mined—both literally and diplomatically.[5][6][7]