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Ceasefire extended, Hormuz reopened
US President Donald Trump and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian electronically signed a memorandum of understanding to extend a ceasefire in the US-Iran war, with Pakistan mediating and saying the “Islamabad MOU” had gone into effect as of Wednesday.
The agreement includes Iran reaffirming a commitment to not develop a nuclear weapon, an end to the war on all fronts, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and it extends the ceasefire for 60 days.
Al Jazeera reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei approved the agreement despite having a “different view,” while Reuters described the war beginning on February 28 when the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran.
The BBC said the interim US-Iran agreement leaves many key issues to be negotiated, with the text committing Iran to “downblending” its stockpile of highly enriched uranium under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Iran’s conditions, US skepticism
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told Iranian media that Iran would monitor the US’s compliance “without any leniency” and would not “fulfil” its commitments if Washington “evades its obligations,” while he said Tehran’s missile programme would be off the table in negotiations.
In the United States, Fox News quoted a senior U.S. official saying, “We come in with the full expectation that they will lie and they will cheat,” as administration officials argued the deal’s monitoring and enforcement would be needed to detect violations.
The BBC said the agreement does not immediately require Iran to dismantle its nuclear program, surrender its enriched uranium stockpile, or end enrichment, instead leaving technical details to be ironed out during the 60-day period.
AP reported that the interim deal is supposed to usher in a two-month period to address Tehran’s nuclear program, but it said the draft says the sides agreed to resolve “the disposition” of Iran’s highly enriched uranium during that period.
CNN reported that Vice President JD Vance said “Some of them are written down,” while also emphasizing that “we don’t trust words, we trust action, and we trust conduct.”
Political fight over the deal
In Washington, Republicans signaled unease with the interim framework, with Wicker blasting that the memorandum of understanding “negotiates away the victories of Operation Epic Fury” and Ted Cruz warning that “If we give billions of dollars to Iran, that money will be used to murder Americans.”
“US President Donald Trump and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian have electronically signed a memorandum of understanding to extend a ceasefire in the US-Iran war”
The BBC said the agreement includes a plan with “at least USD $300 billion” for Iran’s reconstruction and noted that the language appears “opaque,” leaving open the possibility of eventual payments as part of a negotiated settlement.
AP said the accord envisions Iran receiving at least $300 billion to rebuild after the war and says the U.S. would work to end all American and U.N. sanctions imposed on Tehran if a final agreement is reached after the 60-day period.
Al Jazeera reported that Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding” was electronically signed by the US and Iran and endorsed by him as mediator, while the BBC said the interim deal’s 60-day deadline could be extended if necessary.
CNN added that a 60-day period of technical talks is slated to begin on Thursday and that “There are discussions on next steps but there are no finalized agreements beyond the MOU,” as the narrow path toward a broader nuclear deal remains uncertain.
