US and Iran Sign 'Islamabad Memorandum' to End 110-Day War, Triggering Lebanon Ceasefire

The United States and Iran have signed a historic 14-point Memorandum of Understanding to end a devastating 110-day war that has destabilized the Middle East and choked global trade.[1][2]

The "Islamabad Memorandum," brokered primarily by Pakistan with assistance from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, was signed remotely on Wednesday by U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.[1][2]

The agreement mandates an immediate and permanent halt to military operations on all fronts. Crucially, the text explicitly includes Lebanon, effectively requiring Tehran to rein in Hezbollah forces that have been engaged in a brutal parallel conflict with Israel.[1][2]

Following the US-Iran pact, Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a US- and Qatar-brokered ceasefire on Friday afternoon. The Israeli military halted offensive operations at 11:30 a.m. local time, pausing a conflict that had displaced over a million people and killed thousands in Lebanon.[3][7]

Under the terms of the broader US-Iran pact, the United States will lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports and immediately waive restrictions on Iranian oil exports, allowing vital revenue to flow back into the Islamic Republic.[1][6]

In exchange, Iran has committed to restoring commercial shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to pre-war levels within 30 days. Tehran is expected to remove naval mines and technical obstacles, though legal analysts note the agreement's vague language may still allow Iran to charge transit fees or manage the waterway.[5][6]

The nuclear question remains a central pillar of the framework. Iran has agreed to down-blend its stockpile of highly enriched uranium on its own soil, under the supervision of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency.[1][6]

The memorandum establishes a 60-day window for Washington and Tehran to negotiate a comprehensive, final peace settlement. Any final deal would require endorsement by a binding UN Security Council resolution, and potentially face intense scrutiny in the U.S. Congress.[1][2][4][6]

The leaked text also includes a controversial provision for a "rehabilitation and economic development" plan worth up to $300 billion, funded jointly by the US and regional partners, contingent on a final nuclear agreement.[5]

The agreement has drawn fierce criticism from multiple directions. In Washington, foreign policy hawks argue the deal is dangerously lopsided, granting Tehran massive economic relief without permanently dismantling its nuclear infrastructure or proxy networks.[2][6]

In Israel, the government views the US-Iran pact with deep skepticism, feeling sidelined from negotiations that directly impact its national security. Israeli officials, including the ambassador to the US, have warned they retain the right to strike Hezbollah if the Lebanese ceasefire is violated.[1][2][3]

Inside Iran, the ultra-hardline Stability Front and pragmatic factions alike harbor profound distrust of the United States. While state media has framed the agreement as a victory that codifies Iran's battlefield realities, many question whether Washington will honor its commitments after launching two wars against Tehran within a year.[2][5]

The United Nations has welcomed the cessation of hostilities, particularly in southern Lebanon, where peacekeepers had recorded hundreds of daily projectile trajectories and airspace violations in the days leading up to the Friday truce.[7]

Despite the breakthrough, the foundation of the Islamabad Memorandum remains fragile. U.S. officials have warned that either side can walk away at any time, and if the 60-day negotiation window collapses, Washington is prepared to significantly tighten economic and military pressure on Tehran.[1]