The United States and Iran reached an agreement Monday to immediately end the war in the Middle East on all fronts, including Lebanon, with a signing ceremony planned for Friday in Geneva. This agreement was announced Monday morning by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a key mediator in the conflict, and confirmed shortly after by Washington and Tehran.
“The agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now finalized,” US President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social network. “I fully authorize the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without rights of passage and, at the same time, the immediate lifting of the American naval blockade. Ships around the world, start the engines. Let the oil flow freely! », he welcomed, adding that this opening will take place “as soon as the agreement is signed on Friday in order to allow demining”.
The announcement triggered a fall of more than 4% in oil prices, which had soared since the outbreak of war on February 28 and the blockage of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global hydrocarbon trade normally passed. The Tokyo Stock Exchange jumped more than 4% and that of Seoul more than 5% Monday morning.
The document on which Washington and Tehran agreed was not immediately made public. The agreement provides for “the immediate and definitive end of the war and military operations on the various fronts, including in Lebanon,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi declared on state television.
Four negotiating topics
“Negotiations will begin within 60 days with a view to reaching a final agreement,” he said, listing four topics for future discussions: the lifting of sanctions against Iran, the nuclear issue, the “reconstruction” and “economic development” of the country, as well as “the establishment of a monitoring mechanism” of the commitments made.
Iran’s Mehr news agency also reported a text, which has not been officially confirmed, according to which the agreement provides for “the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets during the 60-day negotiation period”, half of which before the start of talks. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed the agreement, “a crucial step towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict”, according to him.
Iran has “imposed its divine and iron will on humiliated American and Zionist enemies. The enemy has no choice but to accept defeat and surrender,” the Iranian general staff welcomed in a statement broadcast by state television. US Vice President JD Vance said he will attend the signing of the agreement on June 19 in Geneva, and that Donald Trump’s participation was “possible”.
Shortly before the announcement of the agreement, Iran’s highest security body, the Supreme National Security Council, had nevertheless warned on
” Furious “
Donald Trump had estimated earlier on his Truth Social network that the Israeli attack “should not have taken place, especially on this special day”, Sunday marking his 80th birthday. “I was furious,” he then told the media Axios, claiming to have reprimanded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “He has no fucking judgment. I let him know.”
Israel, which fears a compromise that would not meet its demands regarding its sworn enemy Iran, said it had responded to Hezbollah drone attacks against its territory. Under pressure at home to emerge from an unpopular conflict that has also shaken the global economy, Donald Trump is due to meet this week with the leaders of other major powers at the G7 summit in Evian, France.
“The objective will be to see the consequences of this agreement, the support for Lebanon, the reopening of Hormuz over time, and obviously the conclusion of an agreement on nuclear and ballistics in Iran,” declared French President Emmanuel Macron after the announcement of an agreement.
In a joint statement, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy said they were “ready to lift relevant sanctions in response to clear and verifiable steps by Iran regarding its nuclear program.”
Triggered on February 28 by American-Israeli strikes, the war set the Middle East ablaze and left thousands dead, mainly in Iran and Lebanon.
