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MOU and Hormuz
A memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran has been signed, with Donald Trump saying the strait of Hormuz “will be completely open” by Friday.
“will be completely open" by Friday”
The Guardian reported that the deal included a ceasefire in Lebanon but “did not provide for a withdrawal of Israeli troops from areas that they occupied,” while Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces will remain in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria “for as long as necessary”.
CNN said the agreement was virtually signed by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance to end a US blockade of Iranian ports, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and start 60 days of nuclear negotiations, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf signing for the Iranian side.
CNN also reported that details remained unclear because “No text has been released yet,” while it described differing accounts on the Strait of Hormuz, including Iran’s intention to collect “fees” and Trump’s position that it would be reopened Friday without tolls.
Netanyahu, Vance, and fighting
Netanyahu told reporters that he and Trump “do not always see eye to eye,” while CNN reported Vice President JD Vance saying the administration believes the agreement “is going to make Israel safer.”
The Guardian said Hezbollah welcomed the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran and warned Israel in a written statement that it would not accept any attacks that violate Lebanon’s sovereignty or targeted its people.
CNN described fighting continuing in southern Lebanon on Monday, with Hezbollah messages on Telegram saying it targeted Israeli tanks and vehicles with drones, rocket launchers and artillery shells, and the Israel Defense Forces saying Hezbollah launched “an anti-tank missile and multiple mortar shells at IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon.”
CNN also reported that a US official told CNN the agreement does not include a requirement that Israel withdraw from Lebanon, and it said Netanyahu told reporters Israel will continue its occupations of Lebanon, Gaza and Syria “for as long as necessary”.
Global backing and next steps
World leaders welcomed the Iran-US understanding, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres describing it as providing for “an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as a framework for further negotiations.”
“an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz”
Iran International reported that Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani expressed hope that all parties would enter the talks with a “positive and constructive” approach, while it said further talks would continue in Switzerland after the Friday ceremony.
The BBC reported that a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Sunday that a final draft had been submitted as a memorandum of understanding covering “the Iranian nuclear program, the reopening of the Hormuz Strait, and easing U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil exports,” with a final agreement to be discussed within up to 60 days.
CNN Arabic said Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the agreement and insisted it “must allow the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz,” while it added that Europe would discuss alternatives and “diversify supply sources away from the Strait of Hormuz” at the G7 meeting in France.
