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The agreement provides for the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, and the lifting of the United States naval blockade.

The Strait of Hormuz is to reopen to toll-free navigation for commercial shipping. The official signing ceremony is scheduled for June 19 in Switzerland.

The framework extends the existing ceasefire to allow time for further negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.

Mediators including the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Republic of Türkiye contributed to the text.

Iranian statements have referred to the document as the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. The announcement followed months of conflict during which the strait had been effectively closed, disrupting global oil supplies.

On June 14, Israeli strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned those strikes, stating they took place despite the ceasefire and at a time when the US and Iran were expected to reach an agreement.

Deal Terms and Party Authorizations:

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A P-8 maritime patrol aircraft arrived first, dropped a life raft, and monitored the crew. The merchant vessel M/V Jabal Ali 9 recovered 11 mariners from the raft.

An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln rescued three more after the raft capsized in rough seas, all 14 reached the merchant vessel in good health and spirits.

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Michael Murphy also responded. The distress vessel was identified as MSV Virat 1.

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Trump Statement on the Prospective Agreement

President Trump posted the following statement on Truth Social on June 13 (amplified by the White House):

“Barack Hussein Obama’s Deal with Iran, the JCPOA, was an easy, beautiful, smooth road to a Nuclear Weapon, which Iran would have had six years ago, and would have used long before now. My Agreement with Iran is the exact opposite, A WALL TO NO NUCLEAR WEAPON! In fact, they no longer want a Nuclear Weapon, nor will they have one, either through purchase, development, or any other form of procurement.”

“The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL. ... Unlike Obama’s Hundreds of Billions of Dollars in payments to them, including 1.7 Billion Dollars in green, cold cash, no money will exchange hands.”

“At the appropriate time, when all is calm, we will go in and get the Nuclear Dust, buried deep under the powerful sunken granite mountains, thanks to our beautiful B-2 Bombers and their brilliant pilots, and downblend and destroy it, whether in Iran, or the United States.”

“We look forward to working with Iran, and the entire Middle East, long into the future. Hopefully, this process will all work out quickly, easily, and smoothly. If it doesn’t, we have the ultimate alternative, hopefully never to be used again!”

U.S. Military Operations in the Arabian Sea and Hormuz Area

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U.S. Central Command has denied any Iranian firing on American warships and stated that no U.S. vessels were struck.

Local residents reported hearing explosions, which Iranian sources attributed to the reported activity. No independent confirmation exists of specific targets hit, damage to named vessels, or successful engagement of U.S. forces.

Iranian Military Claims on Warning Shots and Related Actions

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy stated that it had targeted two vessels for illegal attempts to cross the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The command announced it fired warning shots at non-compliant or trespassing vessels. Provincial officials in Hormozgan reported explosions near Qeshm, Sirik, and Jask and attributed the sounds to warning fire at ships that did not coordinate passage. They denied any land impacts or casualties in those locations.

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The IRGC Navy issued a warning that any vessel approaching the strategic waterway would face decisive action. Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters announced full closure of the strait after a new round of attacks against the country by the U.S. military.

The headquarters stated: “From this moment, due to insecurity in the region, the Strait of Hormuz is declared closed to the passage of all vessels, including oil tankers and commercial ships, and any traffic will be targeted.”

It added that any vessel traffic in the Strait will be dealt with decisively. Major General Abdolrahim Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned that continued threats against Iran’s energy infrastructure could jeopardize oil and gas exports, saying such trade would either remain available to all or to no one.

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Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that final peace agreement text had been reached. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated, however, that Iran has not reached a final conclusion. The two claims stand side by side without resolution.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated the agreement “has never been closer” to completion and wrote “Pending its finalization, the media should refrain from entering speculation about its content.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated most of the text was finalized but the US side made new demands and changed its positions.

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The decision followed discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran that reached the highest level of Iranian leadership and received approval from all parties involved. The Naval Blockade stays in full force and effect until the transaction is finalized.

Cancellation Statement

President Trump stated that discussions with Iran had been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved. He announced the cancellation of the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening.

The statement noted that discussions and final points had been approved in both concept and great detail by all parties involved, including the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and others.

The Naval Blockade will remain in full force and effect until this Transaction is finalized. Time and place of the signing will be announced shortly.

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U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) began launching the latest round of strikes, which it says were carried out in self defense, at 5:15 p.m. ET on Wednesday against Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defense sites, and attributed the strikes to Iran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression.”

Late Tuesday night, CENTCOM disabled the Palau-flagged tanker M/T Settebello in the Gulf of Oman, the eighth vessel disabled since the naval blockade of Iranian ports began on April 13.

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Kuwait’s Defense Ministry reported its air defenses engaged “hostile aerial targets” at dawn, Bahrain’s defense force stated it intercepted and destroyed a number of Iranian missile and drone attacks, and Jordan’s armed forces cited they downed five missiles launched from Iran toward the Azraq area on Tuesday evening.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth tied the military pressure to a stalled nuclear agreement, and both cited oil transit volumes of about 100 million barrels moved through the Strait of Hormuz under U.S. protection.

Strikes on Iranian Surveillance, Communications, and Air Defense Sites

The new round of strikes began at 5:15 p.m. ET, with U.S. Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy assets firing precision munitions at the Commander in Chief’s direction, according to CENTCOM.

The command identified the target categories as military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defense sites across Iran.

CENTCOM stated, “U.S. Central Command forces began launching additional self-defense strikes today at 5:15 p.m. ET against multiple targets in Iran at the Commander in Chief’s direction.”

A command statement added that the targets “posed a threat to U.S. forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters.”

The strikes followed Iran’s downing of a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter near Oman on Monday. The crew was safely returned, according to Department of War reporting. Trump told reporters U.S. forces struck back the following day.

Trump said, “We hit them hard yesterday and we’re gonna hit them again hard today. We’ll see what happens with the deal. We were really close to a deal. But they keep tapping us along. They keep playing us for suckers.”

At MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, after meeting CENTCOM leadership on operations planned for Iran, Hegseth told reporters, “Central Command will be busy tonight because President [Donald J.] Trump said we will be hitting Iran hard, and we will be.”

“Iran has a chance to make a good deal, a great deal, to codify what they said they’ve been willing to do -- and they haven’t been willing to do it.”

Trump On Deal With Iran Without Right To Nuclear Weapons

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The strikes were in response to the downing of a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopter on June 8 at 7:33 p.m. ET while patrolling near the coast of Oman.

Two crew members were rescued safely within approximately two hours and remained in stable condition. The mission used precision munitions from U.S. Air Force and Navy fighter jets.

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U.S. officials characterized the action as self-defense and a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression. Strikes were completed the same day, with no U.S. casualties reported in connection with the operation.

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem issued an updated security alert on June 9 lifting shelter-in-place orders for U.S. government employees and family members while keeping some travel restrictions in place across Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.

Embassy consular sections were scheduled to open for routine and emergency services on June 10, with Ben Gurion Airport operating normally for commercial flights.

The June 8 Helicopter Downing and Rescue

On June 8 at 7:33 p.m. ET, the AH-64 Apache went down during a patrol near the coast of Oman. U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division, supported by U.S. Air Force and Navy units including 5th Fleet Task Force 59, led rescue efforts.

The two soldiers were recovered by an unmanned drone boat and transferred for medical evaluation. Their condition was reported as stable with no injuries. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

President Donald J. Trump stated: “I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz.

There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”

Iranian Response and Claims

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The strikes marked the first direct Iranian missile attack on Israel since the April ceasefire. Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters channels designated the operation as Operation True Promise 5, describing it as a conditional response to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut’s Dahieh suburb earlier on June 7.

Iranian Missile Salvos Trigger Nationwide Alert As Defenses Engage

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported identification of missiles launched from Iran toward Israel on June 7, with defensive systems engaging immediately and nationwide alerts following subsequent volleys on June 8.

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In a separate incident on June 3, Kuwait authorities reported that drones and missiles struck Terminal 1 at Kuwait International Airport, causing severe structural damage, one fatality, and 63 injuries.

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The U.S. Department of State has issued a travel security alert for Kuwait citing the airport incident and continuing aerial threats.

U.S. Central Command stated that U.S. forces intercepted multiple Iranian ballistic missiles and drones on June 2-3 and conducted self-defense strikes on an Iranian military ground control station on Qeshm Island.

House Adoption of H.Con.Res.86

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The strikes damaged Kuwait International Airport’s passenger terminal, killed one Indian expatriate and injured several others according to Kuwaiti officials.

Kuwait has rejected Iran’s assertion that Kuwaiti territory and airspace served as a launch point for prior attacks on Iran. In a diplomatic response, Kuwait expelled two Iranian embassy employees and summoned Iran’s chargé d’affaires.

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The statement follows Iranian claims of a retaliatory operation and coincides with diplomatic condemnations from Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, alongside Kuwaiti military confirmation of active air defense operations.

CENTCOM: Will Continue To Protect U.S. Forces From “Iranian Aggression”

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U.S. state-run news agency Voice of America (VOA) confirmed a report published Thursday by mainstream media regarding the provisional agreement. President Trump and senior Iranian officials have not yet commented on the development.

Since Trump announced a ceasefire on April 8 in the joint U.S.-Israeli offensive against the Iranian government, the United States has been trying to negotiate an agreement with the remnants of the government with the stated goal being to end their pursuit of nuclear weapons and other “malign” activities.

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According to U.S. Central Command, 90 vessels have been redirected as of May 20, and 4 others disabled since the operation began to enforce compliance with restrictions on commerce entering or exiting Iranian ports.

U.S. Navy surface combatants supporting the blockade included USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) transiting the Arabian Sea, and USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) conducting watch operations in the combat information center on the same date.

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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy asserted that 26 ships, including container tankers and other commercial vessels, passed through the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours under its coordination and security on May 20.

The IRGC statements, issued in Persian and English, emphasized that all traffic occurs with permission and in coordination with its forces.

U.S. Navy assets including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) maintained presence in the Arabian Sea during the reporting period.

The continued operations reflect a sustained U.S. pressure on Iranian maritime access alongside Iranian efforts to maintain operational control over the critical choke-point.

U.S. Blockade Enforcement Update

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On May 12, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Iran’s armed forces were “ready to deliver a well-deserved response to any aggression” and that Iran was “prepared for all options.”

On May 10, U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran’s proposal was “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE” and that the ceasefire was “on life support.”

On May 3, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said that the plan “is focused on ending the war, and items related to the details of the country’s nuclear issues absolutely do not exist in this plan.”

Baghaei added that reports of a 15-year suspension were “fabricated by the imagination of some media outlets.” Pakistan mediated delivery of the 14-point proposal to Washington.

Indirect US-Iran talks to formalize the April ceasefire cover sanctions relief, Strait of Hormuz navigation security, and the release of frozen assets.

Indirect US-Iran Negotiations

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Ceasefire negotiations have reached an impasse following Iran’s submission of a counterproposal through Pakistani mediators and its subsequent rejection by U.S. President Donald Trump. Neither side has provided an element‑by‑element clarification or issued a revised offer.

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Iranian leadership has restated its core positions on the nuclear program and access to the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining its stance without offering concessions despite the ongoing diplomatic channel.

The Joint Maritime Information Center has set the Regional Threat Level for the Middle East Maritime Region at CRITICAL, citing several sustained risk factors: ongoing blockade enforcement, reduced commercial traffic, the presence of mines in and near the Strait of Hormuz traffic lanes, and intermittent interference with satellite navigation systems (GNSS).

US Continues To Enforce Naval Blockade Against Iranian Ports

U.S. Central Command forces continue full enforcement of the naval blockade against Iranian ports, with over 20 warships operating across the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Strait of Hormuz to prevent vessels from entering or leaving Iranian waters in violation of the measures.

As of May 11, CENTCOM has redirected 62 commercial vessels and disabled 4 since operations began in mid-April, according to the latest official statements and imagery released by the command. Specific assets currently supporting the mission include:

Aircraft Carriers

• USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), primary carrier currently highlighted in CENTCOM imagery supporting blockade operations

• USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), operating in the Arabian Sea

• USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), operating in the Red Sea

Guided-Missile Destroyers

• USS John Finn (DDG 113)

• USS Milius (DDG 69)

• USS Truxtun (DDG 103)

• USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115)

• USS Mason (DDG 87)

• USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119)

Amphibious Ships

• USS Tripoli (LHA 7)

Logistics and Support Vessels

• USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE-7)

Overall Force Posture

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On April 26, Iran offered through Pakistani mediators to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war while postponing nuclear negotiations to a later stage. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on April 27 to discuss the situation.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on April 27 that Iran can initiate further talks by phone if it wishes. He stated that his national security team is actively discussing Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. forces have maintained patrols and interdiction operations in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman. The blockade targets vessels attempting to enter or depart Iranian ports and coastal areas. It does not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.

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The Central Command assessed on April 27 that American forces continue to enforce the measures with multiple ships and helicopters deployed.

Iran has said that it will not send a negotiating team to Islamabad for further discussions until the U.S. blockade ends.

On April 26, Iranian officials conveyed “red lines” (including nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz) through Pakistani mediators. They proposed a phased approach: first reopen the Strait and end the conflict, then address nuclear matters later.

Iranian officials have described the blockade as a violation of the existing ceasefire. They have set preconditions for any agreement, including the lifting of maritime restrictions, a new legal government over the Strait of Hormuz, war compensation, and guarantees against future U.S. attacks.

Latest Enforcement and Regional Maritime Security

Official maritime summaries as of April 27 show sustained U.S. blockade-enforcement activity in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. No new verified incidents affected commercial shipping in the core blockade zone during this period.

The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC, a multi-national center that tracks threats to shipping in the Middle East) Update 037 covers March 1 to April 26. It states that merchant vessels continue to report a strong naval presence. Mariners are advised to maintain a prudent standoff distance from naval units.

UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO, the United Kingdom’s official service that issues daily security updates for ships) daily summaries for April 23-26 report no incidents across the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

The JMIC Update 037 states that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz via the Traffic Separation Scheme remains reduced. Most vessels now route north of the TSS.

No verified attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait have been reported in the last 72 hours. Reports of mines near the TSS persist and GNSS interference remains sporadic.

The command said on April 27 that American forces continue to enforce the measures with multiple ships and helicopters deployed. Recent examples include:

• guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) enforcing the blockade against tanker M/T Stream on April 26 after it attempted to sail to an Iranian port.

• an F-35B Lightning II launch from amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) on April 24 while sailing in the Arabian Sea.

Assessment: The combination of the JMIC Update 037 and UKMTO daily summaries through April 26 provides independent confirmation that the blockade has maintained effective control over commercial traffic attempting to reach Iranian ports.

No breaches or incidents were recorded in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Gulf during the most recent reporting windows. The reduced Strait of Hormuz traffic said in JMIC Update 037 reflects the cumulative impact of enforcement.

The April 26 Iranian phased proposal and Araghchi’s April 27 meeting with Putin represent the most recent diplomatic signals. U.S. officials continue to require a comprehensive proposal addressing nuclear concerns before any adjustment to enforcement.

If JMIC and UKMTO continue to report no incidents in the primary zone through the end of April, the blockade will have operated for more than two weeks without a single verified commercial shipping incident in its core area.

Specific Vessel Interdictions, Separate Incidents On The Somali Coast:

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Three aircraft carrier strike groups (USS Abraham Lincoln, USS Gerald R. Ford, and USS George H.W. Bush) are now operating simultaneously in the region for the first time in decades, supported by over 200 aircraft and 15,000 sailors and Marines.

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President Trump has directed the Navy to destroy any Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz and ordered mine-sweeping operations at tripled capacity. Rules of engagement authorize destruction of Iranian fast boats that threaten shipping or lay mines.

The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has been extended by three weeks, while Iran’s foreign minister conducts talks in Pakistan on regional developments.

The briefing from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine on April 24 detailed 55 days of operations since major combat began, including the interdiction of the motor vessel Touska and two very large crude carriers in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad on April 24 for meetings with Pakistani leadership on regional peace and stability.

Blockade Enforcement and Maritime Interdictions

U.S. Central Command stated on April 24 that the blockade against ships entering or exiting Iranian ports continues, with U.S. forces having redirected 34 vessels to date.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said every ship the United States believes meets its criteria (Iranian ships or those traveling to and from Iranian ports) has been turned around. Non-Iranian vessels continue to transit, including overnight passages.

Gen. Dan Caine reported that on April 19 the motor vessel Touska, a 965-foot container ship, ignored multiple warnings over six hours before U.S. Navy forces fired warning shots and then nine inert rounds into its engine room at approximately 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, disabling the vessel.

U.S. Marines boarded via helicopter fast-rope infiltration and took custody. The ship and crew remain in U.S. custody.

On April 20 and April 22, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command interdicted the motor tanker Tifani and the stateless motor tanker Majestic X, both very large crude carriers transporting sanctioned Iranian oil, at the request of the Department of Justice. Both vessels and their crews are in U.S. custody.

Documented Interdictions (April 19–22, 2026)

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Four would be released immediately and four sentenced to one month in prison, according to his Truth Social post.

Trump credited Iranian leaders for respecting his request as President of the United States and terminating the planned executions.

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The development follows Trump’s April 21 Truth Social appeal urging Iranian leaders to release the women ahead of expected negotiations with U.S. representatives.

Trump described the release as a potential “great start” to talks and asked that the women “do them no harm.”

Iranian judiciary officials rejected the premise of Trump’s claims. The official Mizan Online website stated on April 21 that Trump had been “misled once again by fake news.”

According to Iranian judiciary’s April 21, 2026 statement published on their official outlet Mizan Online, None of the eight women had final verdicts involving the death penalty, adding that some had already been released while others faced charges that would result at most in imprisonment if convictions were upheld.

Background on the Detainees and January 2026 Protests

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U.S. forces continue the naval blockade and remain ready for further operations pending submission of a unified Iranian proposal.

Iranian officials immediately rejected the extension, with the country’s state media reported that Tehran will not recognize the ceasefire announced by the U.S. president and will act according to national interests.

The developments follow an earlier two-week ceasefire agreement reached in April amid ongoing regional tensions.

U.S. Position on Ceasefire Extension and Blockade Maintenance

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