U.S.-Iran Deal Takes Effect as Hormuz Shipping Resumes
The United States lifted its blockade of Iran on Thursday, allowing oil tankers to resume movement through the Strait of Hormuz after months of disruption. The development followed implementation of a tentative agreement intended to end the war and extend a ceasefire while Washington and Tehran pursue broader negotiations over the next 60 days.
Vice President JD Vance said a planned trip to Switzerland for a ceremonial signing could be delayed, adding uncertainty to the agreement’s public rollout. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also postponed travel connected to the ceremony, according to officials, because the pact had already been signed. President Donald Trump signed the agreement in France, saying it was needed to prevent further economic damage after the conflict drove up oil prices, unsettled markets and contributed to inflation.
A Trump administration envoy, Steve Witkoff, told lawmakers in a private briefing that Iran will invite the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect its nuclear sites. According to people familiar with the briefing, a side letter between Iran and the IAEA would allow Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi to bring U.S. nuclear inspectors to Tehran. The deal requires Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile to be diluted under international supervision and restates Tehran’s commitment not to develop nuclear weapons.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei endorsed direct negotiations with the United States in a statement read by state media, while emphasizing that talks would not mean accepting U.S. positions. The statement marked a shift from Iran’s previous resistance to direct talks.
Shipping through Hormuz has begun to recover, though constraints remain. Maritime data showed major shipowners and Iranian tankers using alternative northern and southern routes. The main central passage remains closed while mines are cleared. U.S. Central Command said American warships will stay nearby to monitor compliance with the agreement going forward.