Al Jazeera

By Faisal Ali, Lyndal Rowlands and Zaid Sabah

    US President Donald Trump says the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran has been “all signed”, and the Strait of Hormuz will be completely open by Friday.

    Three Iranian oil tankers and two cargo ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz after the US lifted its naval blockade, according to Iranian media.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli troops will continue to occupy southern Lebanon, despite the US-Iran agreement.

    Displaced Lebanese return to southern Lebanon as Israeli troops and Hezbollah continue to trade fire in the area.

More Democrats demand answers on Trump’s Iran deal

    Here’s more reaction from Democratic legislators:

    Representative Betty McCollum said the memorandum amounts to a 60-day extension of the earlier ceasefire and warned that, without addressing the deeper issues, “long-term peace will remain out of reach”.

    Representative Diana DeGette said the war with Iran was a “spectacular failure” and that “skepticism is warranted” around the deal in light of Trump’s track record. “The war must end,” DeGette added, “but whether America’s security is actually better off remains to be seen.”

    Senator Andy Kim said the America public deserves to know the contents of the agreement. A deal with Iran “requires time, thoughtfulness, and careful diplomacy,” he said, adding that “We have not seen that from this administration.”

What we know about the US-Iran MoU

    The details of the MoU between the US and Iran have not yet been made fully public, but officials on both sides have offered some indications of what may be included.

    Iran’s National Security Council said on Monday that the deal ends fighting on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and lifts the US naval blockade on Iranian ports.

    Both sides say negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme as well as relief from sanctions will take place in follow up talks during the 60-day period after the MoU is officially signed in Switzerland on Friday.

    Trump said the Strait of Hormuz will be “open to all” on Friday, while Vance, the US vice president, said there will be no tolls on traffic in the waterway during the 60-day period.

    A senior Iranian official told Reuters the US had agreed to release $25bn of Iran’s frozen assets and waive sanctions on oil for a specified period of time.

    Vance also told the CNN broadcaster earlier that it is a “general document” which is around “a page and a half”.

Strait of Hormuz will ‘never return to its pre-war condition’, says Iranian union chief

    Saman Rezaei, the head of Iran’s merchant marine union, says he believes the transit system in the Strait of Hormuz will “never return to its pre-war condition”, even with the eventual end of the crisis.

    “For centuries, the strait has been a safe haven for merchant shipping, but this war has shattered the previous order and structure, and we will have to wait for a new order and a more effective role for its coastal states,” he told Al Jazeera.

    Rezaei, who serves as the secretary-general of the Iranian Merchant Mariners Syndicate (IMMS), an affiliate of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), said the global shipping industry believes that a full return to normal in the strait could be a “long and uncertain process”.

    The recovery, he argued, rests on a “convergence of judgements” based on “sustainable peace, a reduction in the apparent threat, and several cycles of incident-free transit”.

    As for a specific timeline, Rezaei noted that the ITF has said it could take “weeks, if not months” due to an immense backlog of ships and the need to change crews.

    “Also, several major assets of the Ports and Transport Authority and the Trade and Oil Authority on both sides of the Gulf have been damaged by the war, requiring significant funding, and time to repair and rebuild,” he added.

    Trump was speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the G7 meeting in France.

Australia to investigate claims Israeli forces assaulted flotilla activists

    Australian activists who were abducted from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla by Israeli forces say their government has pledged to investigate allegations of abuse and sexual assault in Israeli detention.

    “The Australian Government has committed to undertaking an independent investigation into Israel’s assaults, sexual assaults and torture of the flotilla activists,” Global Movement to Gaza Aotearoa-Australia said in a post on social media.

    The group said the commitment came after they met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Minister for International Development Anne Aly, and a “senior delegation” from the Australian Federal Police and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

    Italy and France have both opened probes into Israel’s treatment of flotilla participants, who were abducted by Israeli forces while sailing in international waters.

    Italy’s investigation includes far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who posted a video showing flotilla participants being shoved and forced to kneel in “stress positions” on the ship they were being held on.

Netanyahu’s comments raise questions about Israel’s ability ‘to derail the talks’

By Nour Odeh

Reporting from Ramallah, occupied West Bank

    It took the Israeli prime minister about 20 hours to come out and speak to the Israeli public about the deal that the US president announced with Iran.

    This is a very, deeply unpopular development.

    The opposition parties and even Netanyahu’s own coalition partners have urged him not to accept it, not to comply with it. And this has put him in quite a tough position.

    The Israeli prime minister defended his government’s positions, [including] the decision to attack Iran when Israel did. He talked about the many military achievements that he says Israel has already accomplished in Iran, in Lebanon, in Syria, and even in Gaza.

    The Israeli prime minister insisted that his troops will continue to stay in the occupied Lebanese territory and will defend Israeli interests, and will act militarily to thwart any attack that fudges the line.

    It doesn’t put the Israeli prime minister in direct confrontation with Trump, but certainly it continues to pose the question of just how much leverage Israel has to derail the talks and what kind of actions await in the coming days.

Oil prices rebound amid concerns over restoration of supply

    Oil prices have risen as markets grow anxious over the lack of details about the US-Iran deal and the prospect that restoring fuel flows through the Strait of Hormuz could take longer than expected.

    Brent crude futures gained 26 cents, or 0.3 percent, to hit $83.42 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose by 46 cents, or 0.3 percent, to reach $81.12 a barrel.

Japan expresses concern over Israel’s attacks on Lebanon

    Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara has voiced concern “about the continuation of Israel’s attacks on south Lebanon”, despite the US and Iran reaching a deal to end fighting on all fronts.

    As we’ve been reporting, Israeli attacks on Lebanon on Monday killed at least one person. Netanyahu has said that Israeli troops will not withdraw from southern Lebanon.

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Iranian-American congresswoman says deal comes after ‘tremendous loss’

    Yassamin Ansari, one of two Iranian-American legislators in the US Congress, has cautiously welcomed the announcement of the US-Iran deal.

    “An end to the war is a positive step,” Ansari said in a post on X, while noting that Congress has yet to see what has been agreed to.

    “Congress must have extensive review of any final agreement signed with the Islamic Republic,” the Democratic congresswoman added.

    Ansari also noted that the deal “comes after a conflict that inflicted enormous costs and leaves both the United States and the Iranian people worse off”.

    “Tremendous loss of life, international instability, and skyrocketing gas prices. This never should have happened in the first place.”

Trump, Vance, and Iran’s Ghalibaf signed MoU, media reports say

    As we’ve been reporting, Trump said the MoU between the US and Iran has already been signed electronically.

    US officials told Reuters and AFP that the agreement was signed by Trump, Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

    “The president wanted to sign it personally because he wanted to show his dedication to bring this through to a successful resolution,” a senior US administration official told AFP.

    Iran has yet to comment on the report.

    Earlier, Ghalibaf wrote on X that Iran has taken a “great step toward final victory” after the country’s “historic resistance” against Israel and the US.

    Trump has meanwhile told reporters in France, where he is attending a G7 summit, that Vance will travel to Switzerland for the official signing ceremony on Friday, and that the text of the agreement will be made public soon.

Senate majority leader hopes for more details on US-Iran deal

    Republican Senator John Thune has told reporters he doesn’t know enough about the deal with Iran to comment on it yet, but he expects Congress to be briefed soon.

    “We do not have an agreement just yet, so we will see when there is text out there,” Thune said. “I’m guessing there will be a high level of interest among our members.”

    Thune said he hopes to receive “more details before Friday”.

    He also suggested that Congress would likely want to hold some type of vote.

    “I think there are some requirements that are triggered because of the nuclear components of the deal, in terms of notification or informing Congress. I know there is probably some expectation that there may be a vote at some point,” he said.

    Earlier, Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Jeanne Shaheen, among others, expressed a desire for Congress to have greater input and be briefed on the deal’s details.

Iran sees US lifting of naval blockade as ‘gesture of goodwill’

By Mohamed Vall

    According to Iranian media, Iranian oil tankers and other ships carrying goods for Iran have crossed the Strait of Hormuz.

    The Fars news agency said several Iranian ships have begun crossing the blockade line without any hindrance. It cited maritime sources as saying that a very large Iranian crude carrier en route from international waters to Iranian ports has crossed the blockade zone. It said another ship carrying livestock supplies is also heading towards Iran via the blockade zone.

    So, there is a beginning of the lifting of the blockade, not a full lifting, of course. But now, the Americans are allowing Iranian ships to cross those waters, both going out to the open seas and coming back to Iranian ports.

    For Iranians, this might be a gesture of goodwill on the part of the Americans in preparation for the signing ceremony on Friday.

    Iran has been waiting for this to happen. Remember that Iranians have always been talking about the US not making good on its promises, and this is the beginning of that test of Americans making good on their promises. And the Iranians say that should be consistent and should continue.

Vance says there will be no tolls in Strait of Hormuz during negotiations

    We have more from JD Vance’s interview with NBC News.

    “What the deal says is that for the 60 days that we’re negotiating the final deal, there will be toll-free access in and out of the Strait of Hormuz,” he told the US broadcaster.

    Vance attributed reports that Tehran plans to impose fees to political posturing within Iran.

    “It’s very clear here that… some elements within Iran are going to… try to emphasise or overemphasise certain benefits that the Iranians get, while underemphasising what the United States gets,” he said.

    “The truth is that the tolls will not be charged, the Strait of Hormuz will be open, and by the way, we’re already seeing a substantial increase in toll-free traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.”

Ukraine welcomes US-Iran deal, hopes for end to Russian invasion

    Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has welcomed the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, saying Kyiv hopes it will prompt Washington to renew efforts to end Russia’s invasion.

    “In Ukraine, we also see this as momentum and an opportunity for the United States to reenergize peace efforts aimed at ending Russian aggression against Ukraine,” Sybiha said on X.

    “American leadership is crucial to ending this war.”

Vance calls Iran deal a ‘win-win for the American people’

    US Vice President JD Vance has published a video on X, explaining what the “great peace deal” with Iran entails as pressure grows for more clarity.

    He said the deal means the Strait of Hormuz opens “immediately” and “ensures that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon”.

    “If the Iranians make the long-term commitment never to rebuild [their nuclear programme], then they are going to be welcomed into the global economy”. If they violate those commitments, they are “never going to have the resources to do so”, he said.

    He went on to describe the deal as a “win-win for the American people”.

    The Trump administration has been under growing pressure from Republican Iran hawks and Democrats, who have said the agreement is weaker than the Obama-era deal that Trump tore up. Many members of Congress are demanding clarity and congressional oversight.

Trump says reports of US payouts to Iran are ‘fake news’

    We’ve been reporting on Trump dismissing reports of US payments to Iran.

    Here’s his full statement on Truth Social:

    “Iran has agreed to never have a Nuclear Weapon! Also, the story that the US is paying Iran 300 million Dollars is Fake News, put out by the Dumocrats!!!”

JD Vance says he expects nuclear inspectors to return to Iran ‘very quickly’

    The US vice president has told NBC News that the deal to end the war “absolutely” includes nuclear inspectors returning to Iran.

    He added that while the exact date for their return is still to be agreed upon, he expects it will “happen very quickly”. He also said the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), will play a role in destroying Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium.

    “One of the core parts of the agreement is that the IAEA and the United States are going to help Iran destroy the highly enriched stockpile, and that is something that is spelled out very clearly in the MoU,” he said.

    He also said “benefits will flow” to Iran “if they comply”.

    “That’s what we hope to see. We want them to behave like a normal country. I want them to have a successful country, but only if they do what’s necessary to commit long term to not building a nuclear weapon.”

US insists ‘any rewards for Iran will be performance-based’

By Kimberly Halkett

Reporting from Washington DC

    In recent hours, officials have been pushing back on what they say is fake news regarding reports that the Trump administration is going to pay Iran cash in order to have it sign the memorandum of understanding.

    The administration has been insisting through Vice President JD Vance, who has been giving a series of interviews for several hours now, that it did not trade sanctions relief for a signed memorandum of understanding. The US president also put out on his Truth Social media platform the following post: “Iran has agreed to never have a nuclear weapon. Also, the story that the US is paying Iran $300m is fake news”, put out by the what he calls the “Dumocrats”, his own nickname for the Democrats.

    In other words, what they are saying is that any rewards for Iran are going to be performance-based. There will be a lifting of sanctions, there will eventually be a return of frozen assets, but that is not going to come when the memorandum of understanding is signed on June 19.

    Instead, it will happen after the 60-day period of negotiations, when the White House hopes they will have an agreement signed that will limit Iran’s nuclear programme.

Democrats slam Trump’s war on Iran, demand Congress briefing on MoU

    More Democratic lawmakers in the US have criticised the deal Trump announced with Iran, with Senator Richard Blumenthal likening the outcome of the US war on Iran to the UK’s Suez Canal crisis, when British forces invaded Egypt with Israeli and French troops.

    The conflict is widely thought of as a watershed moment in the decline of the UK as a Middle East power.

    “History rhymes,” Blumenthal said on X.

    “The Suez crisis showed the British what overreach looks like: rash military action, allied rupture, then reversal. Trump’s Iran war draws comparison—rapid escalation, risible gains, and a growing credibility bill that the U.S. keeps paying,” he added.

    Senator Chuck Schumer, the minority leader, called for a briefing on the deal.

    “It’s been nearly 24 hours since Donald Trump announced an “understanding” with Iran, and we still don’t have any details. Trump must brief Congress and the American people and explain the details of this deal immediately, and put an end this war once and for all.”

    Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley called the deal “necessary and overdue”, but criticised Trump for supporting Netanyahu’s “barbaric warfare at the expense of communities at home and abroad”.