US Iran deal highlights: CENTCOM confirms lifting Iran naval blockade; Trump says he expects Lebanon truce

US Iran Deal LIVE Updates: Much of the agreement would restore the status quo before the war, including ending hostilities, restarting talks between the US and Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial passage for the world's oil and natural gas whose closure created a historic energy crisis.

The agreement opens the strait without tolls for two months, but does not preclude fees in the future, according to the drafts from both countries.

In return, the US will move to waive, but not eliminate, some wide-ranging sanctions against Iran.

The deal also affirms a commitment to Lebanon's territorial integrity in the face of Israel's invasion against the Hezbollah militant group.

That is one of the most delicate parts of the agreement because Israel has maintained it will continue to defend itself and to occupy vast swaths of Lebanon.

Iran has said Israel must withdraw under the deal, a condition Israel has already rejected.

via AP

US Iran Deal LIVE Updates: US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the MoU to end months of conflict in the Middle East. What happens next? Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan and co-mediator Qatar will still host an official signing ceremony on Friday in Switzerland, following which talks are likely to begin.

US Iran Deal LIVE Updates: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended the interim deal with Iran at a G7 summit in France, saying a prolonged war in the Middle East could have caused an economic catastrophe.

"I didn't want to see economic catastrophe. If you kept this going, that could have happened," Trump told reporters in the lakeside resort of Evian-les-Bains.

The Republican president said he did not want to be like Herbert Hoover, who was U.S. president in October 1929 when the stock market crashed, triggering what became known as the Great Depression.

"All I know is every time we talked about the possibility of peace, the stock market shot up like a rocket ship," Trump said. "Every time we said something negative, like, guess what, we're not going to be able to settle, it would go down very big."

via Reuters

US Iran Deal LIVE Updates: US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran was all prepared to use nuclear weapons, but the US stopped it. "Iran would have 100% used a nuclear weapon, they were on the way; We went in to put out the fire," Trump said on the sidelines of G7 summit in Paris.

US Iran Deal LIVE Updates: Eleven Iranian ships have so far passed through the Hormuz strait, Iran's Press TV reported, citing sources. The report said that 8 vessels sailed through international waters from Iran’s territorial waters, and 3 others entered Iranian waters shortly the naval blockade was lifted and leaders of US and Iran signed the MoU.

Iran war LIVE: A liquefied natural gas tanker that loaded in Qatar is nearing the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported. This comes hours after US and Iran leaders signed the MoU to end the 3-month-long war in Middle East that upended the energy market.

The Mraikh, which picked up a shipment earlier this month, is heading toward the chokepoint after being stuck in the Persian Gulf since February, according to ship-tracking data. The vessel, which is chartered by QatarEnergy, is signaling Pakistan’s Port Qasim as its next location.

Qatar is aiming to restore most of its export capacity within two months of Hormuz reopening, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. That will require securing vessels to lift shipments — although no empty LNG tanker has sailed into the Persian Gulf since the conflict began in late February.

Iran war LIVE: Oil prices fell in early trading on Thursday after the U.S. and Iran signed an interim agreement that would end the Iran war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and waive U.S. sanctions on Tehran's oil, resolving the largest energy supply disruption in history.

Brent crude futures were down 89 cents, or 1.12%, at $78.66 a barrel as of 0005 GMT, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate fell 98 cents, or 1.28%, to $75.81 a barrel.

The benchmarks resumed their decline, reversing gains made on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he could resume his bombing campaign if Iran's leaders "don't behave".

"The sell-off extended as energy markets continued to aggressively price in a faster-than-expected return of Iranian barrels following the recent U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding," IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said in a note.

via Reuters

Iran war LIVE: The Iran and the United States have agreed to a memorandum of understanding to end more than 3 months of war, that will put an end to the fighting in West Asia. The deal will be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday. The 14-point memorandum of understanding, though not officially announced, mentions the war in Lebanon, Strait of Hormuz, and other contesting issues. Here are some key points:

• The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States undertake to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to refrain from interfering in each other’s internal affairs.
• The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States undertake to negotiate and reach a final agreement within a maximum period of 60 days, extendable by mutual consent.
• The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States agree that an implementation mechanism will be established to oversee the successful implementation of and future commitment to the Final Agreement.

Read full text here

Iran war LIVE: Top Democratic lawmakers have demanded that Secretary of State Marco Rubio brief the US Congress on the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Iran to end the over three-month war.

In a letter addressed to Rubio on Wednesday, Congressmen Gregory Meeks, Jim Himes and Adam Smith, the ranking members of the House committees on Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence and Armed Services, respectively, sought an "immediate" briefing to Congress upon his return to Washington.

Rubio is accompanying President Donald Trump on his visit to France for the G7 Summit and related engagements.

"While we welcome the Administration's turn toward diplomacy and its decision to end this war of choice, the Administration must provide Congress with greater details about the MoU, any side agreements, and the Administration's plan and strategy for the 60-day ceasefire period," the Congressmen said in the letter.

They sought details on the Trump administration's approach to sanctions relief, Iran's nuclear programme, and reported economic and reconstruction funds.

"On all these questions, the Administration has already repeatedly contradicted itself while asking the American people to trust the contents of an agreement that hasn't been made available to them," the lawmakers said.

"We request that this briefing occur as soon as possible and that all relevant documents, including the full text of the MoU and any related agreements or implementing arrangements, be provided to Congress in advance," they said.

via PTI

Iran war LIVE: The White House said Trump signed a memorandum of understanding on ending the war in Iran while at Versailles, though cameras weren’t present for that.

Many historic treaties have been signed at Versailles over the centuries, ending wars or territorial disputes. The most infamous was that sealed in 1919 officially ending World War I — whose harsh terms imposed on Germany are blamed by some historians for laying the groundwork for World War II.

Iran war LIVE: Trump told reporters that he signed the memorandum of understanding with Iran. “It’s signed,” Trump said as he left Versailles. “I signed it in Versailles,” Trump said. “Just signed it.”

Iran war LIVE: Though officials had said Trump and US Vice President JD Vance had digitally signed the agreement Sunday and that a ceremonial signing would be held Friday in Switzerland, a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity to share details about the agreement said Trump signed the deal while at Versailles on Wednesday.

The US official said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also signed it Wednesday, though Iran did not immediately comment. It wasn’t immediately clear if that act started a 60-day negotiating clock to reach a final deal. It was also not clear how Trump’s signing of the deal at Versailles differed from his digital signing on Sunday.

via AP

Iran war LIVE: French President Emmanuel Macron shared first visuals of US President Donald Trump signing the MoU to end Iran war during a dinner at the Palace of Versailles in Paris. “This agreement paves the way for lasting peace and allows the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. It is an important step in the right direction for our compatriots that will soon enable a decrease in energy prices,” Macron wrote on X.

Iran war LIVE: Confirming the signing of the MoU, Pakistan Prime Minister said, “It shall enter into force with immediate effect.”

Sharif said Pakistan and co-mediator Qatar will still host an official signing ceremony on Friday in Switzerland. His statement came shortly after Trump said he’d signed the agreement during a dinner at the Palace of Versailles.

Iran war LIVE: Leaders of Iran and the US have signed a memorandum of understanding, an interim document to end the Middle East war, moderator Pakistani has confirmed. 'It shall enter into force with immediate effect", Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said.