Public Gazette
Tehran: Iran’s deputy foreign minister said on Tuesday that the United States had lifted its two-month naval blockade of Iranian ports, paving the way for the formal signing of an agreement aimed at ending the war.
Iran announced that talks with the United States on its nuclear programme and sanctions relief are expected to begin later this week, following the lifting of a two-month US naval blockade on Iranian ports ahead of a formal peace agreement. Iranian and US officials are set to meet in Switzerland on Friday to launch negotiations on a final deal covering Tehran’s nuclear activities and the removal of sanctions. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will attend the signing ceremony, with Pakistan playing a key role as a mediator alongside Qatar. The anticipated reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has boosted market confidence and pushed global oil prices lower. However, major differences remain over Iran’s uranium enrichment programme and Western sanctions.
Iran’s hardline newspaper Vatan-e Emrooz hailed the agreement as a “Trump surrender document,” while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi took a far more cautious stance, warning that past experiences of broken promises still weigh heavily on Tehran’s mind.
He noted that Iran has repeatedly seen international agreements abandoned or violated, saying this history continues to shape its approach.
On the US side, a senior administration official claimed that Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had already signed the deal electronically. Vance, speaking in media interviews to promote the agreement, stressed that no US taxpayer funds would be directed to Iran, while Iranian outlets reported that around $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets would be released under the deal. He also said international nuclear inspectors would be granted access to Iran’s facilities.
Despite the optimism, analysts warn that ongoing tensions in Lebanon between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah could seriously undermine the diplomatic progress. Middle East Institute fellow Ross Harrison described the situation as a potential “major spoiler” for the negotiations.
Meanwhile, Lebanese leaders are preparing for separate talks with Israel aimed at securing a lasting ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, though Israeli officials have strongly criticised the broader US-Iran agreement and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that Israeli forces will remain deployed across Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria “for as long as necessary.”
Araghchi, however, insisted that ending hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon, is central to any lasting peace, calling the end of the Lebanon conflict “an inseparable part” of a comprehensive settlement.
The Israeli military said it carried out strikes in southern Lebanon on Tuesday after intercepting rockets fired by Hezbollah at its troops in the area, even as a US-Iran agreement that includes the Israel-Hezbollah conflict moves ahead.
At the same time, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar that the upcoming phase of US-Iran negotiations—mediated with Pakistan’s involvement—will likely be more difficult than the first. In their phone call ahead of Friday’s planned signing of a US-Iran memorandum of understanding to end the war, Wang said the initial consensus is only a starting point, not a final solution, and stressed that reaching lasting peace in the Middle East will require sustained effort from all sides.
He also said the United Nations Security Council should play a stronger role in supporting the talks, adding that China is willing to work with Pakistan to promote regional stability. Pakistani officials have previously highlighted China’s role as Iran’s major trading partner and a key supporter of mediation efforts.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry said both sides agreed to continue engagement for a peaceful resolution of outstanding issues, including tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, whose disputed blockades have disrupted global energy markets. They also emphasised the importance of reopening the waterway for global trade and energy security.
Separately, US President Donald Trump said Washington has “no obligation” to invest in Iran under the deal, insisting that no US taxpayer money will be used. He said the agreement is focused on ensuring Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon, warning that severe consequences would follow if it did.
Iranian negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf told Lebanon’s parliament speaker that Israel must withdraw from occupied areas and allow displaced residents in southern Lebanon to return home.
Lebanon reported that Israeli strikes in the south killed four people, while Israel said it was responding to Hezbollah rocket fire and conducting raids.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem thanked Iran’s negotiators for helping bring an end to what he called “Israeli-American aggression” in Lebanon. He expressed appreciation for Iran’s efforts to secure a halt to military operations across multiple fronts, including Lebanon, following the announcement of the US-Iran agreement.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remained very limited on Tuesday, with maritime tracking data showing only a few vessels passing through the key waterway, even two days after the US announced plans to reopen it under a deal with Iran to end the war.
According to Kpler data, only four ships carrying raw materials were recorded crossing the strait by mid-afternoon on Tuesday, while five crossings were seen on Monday—levels similar to those seen before the agreement was announced.
Qatar, one of the key mediators in the US-Iran deal, said it remains cautiously optimistic that the agreement could lead to improved regional security. Foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said the current understanding is only the beginning of a longer process and urged continued regional dialogue after the memorandum is signed on Friday. He confirmed that both Pakistani and Qatari representatives will attend the signing ceremony.
The head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, stressed that fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz to tanker traffic is essential to stabilising global energy markets and easing pressure from high oil and gas prices.
Inside Iran, authorities executed two men convicted over their alleged role in anti-government protests that escalated earlier this year. Meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s former monarch, criticised any agreement that keeps Iran’s current government in power and called for stronger international support for opposition movements.
On the economic side, a senior US official said Iran will soon be allowed to resume oil and fuel exports under the agreement. The announcement, along with optimism over the Strait of Hormuz reopening, pushed oil prices below $80 a barrel and influenced global markets, with mixed performance across major stock indices.
Several countries reacted cautiously: Saudi Arabia emphasised restoring free navigation in the strait, Germany offered support for regional peace efforts, and shipping companies said they may wait weeks before resuming full transit due to security concerns.
Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines said operators will only return once the deal is seen as stable and credible.
Iran also announced plans to connect its electricity grid with Qatar, while exploring similar links with other Gulf states.
In the United States, President Donald Trump said he is willing to submit the Iran deal to Congress but faced criticism from lawmakers who said they lacked details of the agreement. Both Democrats and Republicans demanded full transparency, with some questioning whether the deal can be trusted.
A reported framework of the agreement suggests a broad 14-point plan covering an immediate end to hostilities, respect for sovereignty, gradual lifting of sanctions, reopening of trade routes, and potential release of frozen Iranian assets. It also outlines a timeline of up to 60 days for final negotiations and proposes international oversight through the UN Security Council.
Tensions remain high despite the diplomatic progress. Iran’s military warned it could respond to Israeli strikes in Lebanon, while Israel said it was acting against Hezbollah rocket fire.
At the same time, the US Senate narrowly blocked an attempt to limit presidential war powers over Iran, highlighting ongoing political divisions in Washington over the conflict.
