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Baghaei noted mediators may convey messages from the American side regarding regional developments, but no negotiations are under way.

Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said Iran had halted its retaliatory operations after the United States stopped its attacks. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said President Donald Trump is giving talks “some space” and “a little bit of room.”

Akraminia said Iran’s strategy had been retaliatory and that operations were halted once U.S. strikes stopped. Iran continued to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz and reported ongoing bilateral discussions with Oman on navigation management.

On July 27, Esmail Baghaei addressed a weekly press briefing in Tehran and said claims Iran had requested negotiations with the United States are fabrications circulated by the other side. He added that Iran’s priority remains defending its sovereignty.

Iranian state-affiliated media reported Baghaei’s additional comments that the United States had “betrayed diplomacy” by violating a prior 14-point Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

Baghaei further noted that the only ongoing talks are with Oman and are focused on creating the necessary arrangements regarding the Strait of Hormuz. He said Iran will not allow the United States to determine the time of war and peace and will defend itself for as long as necessary.

The United States conducted no airstrikes on Iran for a second straight night after operations that began in early July. Iranian forces likewise conducted no attacks on U.S. bases or regional partners after July 24.

The final night of strikes by the United States, marked as the 13th consecutive night completed on July 23 at 9 p.m. ET, targeted Iranian military command centers, drone storage facilities, communication networks, coastal surveillance sites, and maritime capabilities.

Baghaei said Iran and Oman held discussions on July 24 and 25 on mechanisms for safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz while respecting the sovereign rights of both coastal states. He said the waterway remains closed under Iran’s management authority.

Iranian state media reported that six vessels attempting unauthorized transit were turned back on July 27. On July 26 Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said that several rounds of negotiations were held in Tehran on Friday and Saturday between deputy foreign ministers of the two countries.

The two sides exchanged views on shared principles and operational mechanisms for ensuring the safe passage of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz while respecting the sovereign rights of the two littoral states.

The talks were constructive and had yielded progress. The Omani delegation left Tehran on Saturday afternoon, but technical and political consultations between the two sides are continuing.

No changes have occurred in the status of maritime traffic through the Strait. Baghaei clarified that these bilateral talks had no relation to the United States.

White House: President Trump Prefers A Diplomatic Solution But Continues To Retain All Options If Iran’s Hormuz Activities Persist

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Baghaei described the discussions as useful, noted that the Omani delegation departed Tehran on Saturday evening, and said technical and political consultations continue. He emphasized that no change has occurred in the current maritime traffic situation in the strait.

The announcement came while the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in full effect. As of the most recent U.S. Central Command update on July 25, forces had redirected 12 commercial vessels attempting to transit to or from Iranian ports or coastal areas, disabled 2 that did not comply, and boarded 2 to verify compliance.

• On July 25, CENTCOM forces completed a verification boarding of the Comoros-flagged tanker M/T Charminar in the Arabian Sea; the vessel continued its journey.

• On July 24, forces disabled the Mozambique-flagged tanker M/T Lavine in the Gulf of Oman after the crew attempted to violate the blockade multiple times and ignored repeated warnings; the ship is no longer transiting to Iran.

Progressive tallies released by CENTCOM recorded 7 redirected and 1 disabled as of July 20, 8 redirected and 1 disabled as of July 21, 9 redirected and 1 disabled as of July 22, 12 redirected and 1 disabled as of July 23, and the July 25 figures of 12 redirected, 2 disabled, and 2 boarded.

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The office called on all media outlets to exercise precision, rely on official sources, and refrain from circulating unverified information or information attributed to anonymous sources.

The claims at issue held that Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi had delivered a U.S. cease-fire proposal to Iranian officials during his official visit to Tehran. No named official on either the Iraqi or U.S. side has publicly affirmed that such a proposal was prepared or conveyed.

Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi returned to Baghdad on July 24 after concluding an official visit to Tehran on July 23. The visit included meetings with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and head of the judiciary Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i.

Four agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed covering international road transport of goods, a railway link from Kermanshah-Khosravi-Khanaqin to Baghdad, twinning between the Baghdad Municipality and Tehran Municipality, and government administration and human resources training.

U.S. Presidential Envoy Amplifies Iraqi Statement, CENTCOM Reports Carrying Out Strikes On Iranian Military Targets

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The development follows discussions between Israel and Lebanon in Rome the prior week. The United States stated it will continue working closely with both parties to implement the Framework.

Trilateral Framework Provisions and Pilot Zone Structure

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U.S. assets targeted Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, missile and drone launch sites, and communications networks to further diminish Iran’s ability to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

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CENTCOM stated that its forces “remain highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready” under direction from the Commander in Chief.

On the same day, U.S. military personnel recovered unidentified remains at the site of the July 17 Iranian attack in Jordan following a thorough search.

An examination process to verify the remains is ongoing, with identities withheld out of respect for the families during notification.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to the press at Joint Base Andrews on July 19, stated that the only reason the U.S. is conducting strikes is against assets of Iran that are being used to attack global commercial shipping.

He said the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway and that the United States is involved not just in protecting those ships but in targeting the places from which they launch these missiles and drones.

Rubio added that as long as Iran insists on controlling an international waterway, the United States is going to have to respond.

Maritime Warnings, Iranian Claims and Strike Activity

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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that it carried out a wave of retaliatory strikes on U.S. military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan.

The command stated that its forces began the July 15 wave at 10:00 a.m. UTC (1:00 p.m. local Gulf time) and completed it at 11:30 a.m. UTC (2:30 p.m. local Gulf time), a 90-minute action against coastal defense systems and cruise-missile storage and launch sites on Greater Tunb Island, a small Iranian-held island near the mouth of the strait.

CENTCOM tied the strikes to degrading Iranian capabilities used against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The morning wave came a day after the July 14 strikes and the restart of the blockade of Iranian ports, when the command carried out an additional strike round at 7:00 p.m. UTC (10:00 p.m. local Gulf time), resumed a naval blockade of Iranian ports at 8:00 p.m. UTC (11:00 p.m. local Gulf time), and completed a seven-hour strike over dozens of targets.

About 17 hours after the blockade restarted, CENTCOM reported redirecting two commercial vessels that attempted to run it, the first count of vessels turned away since the blockade resumed.

The strikes and blockade have run alongside a series of attacks on shipping that each side attributes to the other.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Defense Ministry attributed a July 14 cruise-missile strike on two UAE-flagged tankers to Iran, and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has framed its own operations as retaliation for the U.S. campaign.

July 15 Morning Strike Wave

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On July 14, CENTCOM began launching the third consecutive night of strikes against Iran. The command stated that these strikes will continue imposing costs on Iranian forces and reduce their capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The previous wave of strikes on July 12 targeted Iranian military air-defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone capabilities, and small boats, and included the first combat employment of one-way attack sea drones by U.S. forces against a submarine and ship maintenance facility at Bandar Abbas Naval Base. CENTCOM stated that the strikes “degraded Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial shipping.”

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The M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship with IMO number 9401271, was attacked by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces approximately nine nautical miles east of Oman on July 11.

One civilian crew member remains missing, and the vessel suffered onboard fire and significant engine-room damage that prevented it from continuing its journey. The vessel had its Automatic Identification System switched off at the time of the incident.

Third Consecutive Night Of Strikes On Iran Targeting Air Defense Systems, Coastal Radar Sites, Missile and Drone Capabilities

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One civilian crew member is missing and the vessel sustained significant engine-room damage and an onboard fire that prevented it from continuing its journey.

Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all traffic until further notice and until the end of U.S. operations in the region.

Iranian state media, citing the IRGC Navy, stated that it fired a warning shot at a vessel that had deactivated its tracking system and strayed from approved routes. The vessel stopped after the warning.

The IRGC Navy warned that no vessel would be permitted to cross and that any misstep by adversaries would meet a severe response.

M/V GFS Galaxy Attack And U.S. Response

CENTCOM stated that the attack on M/V GFS Galaxy occurred while the vessel was transiting the Strait of Hormuz. One civilian crew member is missing, and the vessel was unable to continue its journey after the attack.

CENTCOM stated the strikes responded to the attack on the vessel and formed part of ongoing efforts to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial ships in the strait. The strikes followed earlier attacks by the United States on July 7 and July 8.

The Iranian warning shot and closure declaration occurred on or around the same date. Iranian state media reported the IRGC Navy action against a vessel that had killed its tracking and deviated from designated routes.

No vessel name, flag, or further identifying details for the vessel referenced in the Iranian statement have been released in open sources. No casualties or damage from the warning shot itself have been reported.

These events follow attacks on three commercial tankers on July 6-7 that the United States attributed to Iran and that prompted prior U.S. retaliatory strikes.

U.S. Position

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CENTCOM reported more than 20 U.S. Navy warships patrolling waters across the Middle East on the same day. The three commercial vessels struck included the Marshall Islands-flagged Al Rekayyat, a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker owned and managed by Nakilat, the Saudi Arabia-flagged Wedyan owned by Bahri, and the Liberia-flagged Cyprus Prosperity.

All three were hit close to Oman while traveling on an Omani-proposed coastal transit route that Iran has opposed. The Al Rekayyat was struck by a drone off Limah on the Musandam Peninsula, causing a fire in the engine room that was extinguished with no crew casualties reported; the vessel continued its passage. The Wedyan left a visible crude oil spillage trail in satellite imagery.

U.S. Strikes in Response to Shipping Attacks

On July 7, U.S. Central Command forces began launching strikes against Iran. CENTCOM stated the action responded to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz and described the Iranian actions as a violation of the ceasefire.

The strikes targeted more than 80 sites, including Iranian air defense systems, command and control networks, coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile capabilities, and more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps small boats in and near the strait.

Locations included Qeshm island, Bandar Abbas, Sirik, and Bandar Mahshahr. Iranian state media reported explosions in those areas and stated that one IRGC Navy member was killed during a confrontation with a US drone in Bandar Mahshahr.

The attacks on the vessels occurred after the United States revoked a temporary license authorizing Iranian oil sales that had been part of the interim agreement framework.

Iranian Retaliatory Strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait

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The strikes came as U.S. and Iranian negotiators continued talks under the framework the two governments signed June 17 to end Operation Epic Fury and reopen the strait to commercial traffic.

A Qatari-owned liquefied natural gas tanker caught fire after being struck near Limah, Oman. A Saudi crude oil tanker was hit exiting the strait near Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, and a third tanker sustained minor damage near the Musandam Peninsula.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center (UKMTO) and the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) each reported “no casualties or environmental impact” from the three incidents.

Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the Gulf Cooperation Council condemned the attacks and held Iran responsible.

The U.S. Treasury Department revoked the license authorizing Iran to sell oil on international markets, and CENTCOM reported its forces struck Iranian targets that evening. Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded with a formal statement calling the U.S. actions violations of the memorandum ending the war.

Early on July 8, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had struck U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain in retaliation for the American strikes, and Kuwait’s military said its air defenses were confronting the missile and drone attack, the first Iranian fire on U.S. positions in the Gulf since the late-June stand-down.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry told the Gulf states hosting U.S. forces they would be complicit in any aggression against Iran and said its forces would “target the source and origin of the aggression,” while Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated Washington had violated the memorandum and Tehran raised the prospect of halting the talks held since June 17.

The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which the two governments signed June 17, followed more than three months of war between the United States, Israel, and Iran that began February 28 and an April ceasefire that repeatedly came under strain.

A new round of fighting had also broke out June 26-29, when Iran struck two ships in the Hormuz corridor, U.S. forces struck ten Iranian targets, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired missiles at U.S. positions in Kuwait and Bahrain before the stand-down took hold.

Fire Aboard Qatari LNG Tanker as Three Vessels Struck in One Day

The Joint Maritime Information Center’s Update 068, covering the period through July 7, listed three attacks that day, each involving a tanker struck by an unidentified projectile while transiting the strait.

The first, logged as UKMTO Warning 080-26, struck a tanker on its port-side engine room roughly eight nautical miles east of Limah, Oman, igniting a fire as the vessel traveled southbound out of the strait.

UKMTO and JMIC withheld the vessel’s name. The location, vessel type, and timing are consistent with Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement, which said its LNG tanker Al Rekayyat was struck near the strait the same day, though neither UKMTO nor JMIC has published a name linking the two directly.

A second incident, UKMTO Warning 081-26, struck a very large crude carrier on its port side roughly 16 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, as the vessel exited the strait; JMIC’s summary states the vessel proceeded to its next port of call with no crew injuries reported.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs identified the tanker struck that day as its crude oil carrier Wedyan, and reporting citing UKMTO places the Wedyan strike at the same Khor Fakkan location JMIC lists for Warning 081-26.

The third incident, UKMTO Warning 082-26, struck a tanker approximately six nautical miles east of the Musandam Peninsula, Oman, at 1:05 p.m. UTC.

UKMTO’s own warning attributes the strike to an unknown uncrewed aerial vehicle; JMIC’s Update 068 table describes the same warning number as a strike from an unknown projectile.

Neither UKMTO nor JMIC named the vessel; U.S. Central Command’s July 7 press release identified the third vessel struck that day as the Liberian-flagged M/T Cyprus Prosperity, alongside the Marshall Islands-flagged Al Rekayyat and the Saudi Arabia-flagged Wedyan.

Assessment: UKMTO’s warning for the Musandam-area strike attributes the weapon to a UAV, while JMIC’s own table entry for the same warning number describes an unknown projectile; the discrepancy between the two documents from the same reporting chain remains open as of July 8.

The distinction matters for attribution, since a UAV and a surface- or air-launched projectile point to different launch platforms and, potentially, different points of origin.

CENTCOM’s press release named the vessel as the Cyprus Prosperity but did not identify the weapon, so a corrected UKMTO or JMIC advisory is the most likely source to settle which system was used.

Qatar Summons Iran’s Deputy Ambassador, Reserves Right to Respond

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Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei issued immediate public responses criticizing the event and linking it to broader U.S. regional policy.

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Explosions were reported in Bahrain and Kuwait that day, with air sirens activated across Bahrain and Kuwait’s army stating it intercepted what it described as hostile missile and drone attacks.

Central Command (CENTCOM) stated it conducted strikes on Iranian military targets including surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and mine-layer capabilities near the Strait of Hormuz.

The operation responded to continued Iranian attacks on commercial vessels.

IRGC Navy Command Statement on Strait of Hormuz and Regional Bases

The IRGC Navy Command statement said, “The blind firing of America at Sirik does not solve the mystery of our dominance over the strait, but our firing at the violators reminds the rest of the vessels of the clear path of passage. The American bases in the region are in a different situation. They will experience hell in these days.”

Assessment: The statement asserts Iranian dominance over the Strait of Hormuz after U.S. strikes near Sirik and separates the account of American bases for distinct treatment.

Reported Explosions and Air Defense Activity in Bahrain and Kuwait

Press TV, the Iranian state broadcaster, said explosions were heard in Bahrain and Kuwait on June 28, with air sirens sounding across Bahrain. Similar reports came from other regional media.

Bahrain’s authorities activated warning sirens citing potential targeting of U.S. military bases. Kuwait’s army stated it intercepted what it described as hostile missile and drone attacks, with blasts from defenses heard nationwide.

No official casualty or damage figures from Kuwaiti or Bahraini government sources were identified.

Regional media described the events as part of Iranian retaliatory actions following U.S. strikes on Iranian targets near Sirik and Qeshm.

CENTCOM statements from the same period described recent U.S. strikes on Iranian military targets in response to an attack on a commercial vessel in the strait.

IRGC Claim of Joint Missile and Drone Operation

The IRGC reported that it conducted a joint missile and drone operation with its Navy and Aerospace Force. The claim specified targeting eight important U.S. military facilities and infrastructures at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the Fifth Naval Fleet in Port Salman, Bahrain.

The operation was described as a decisive response to recent U.S. aggression, with a warning that any further enemy aggression, even against minor targets, would receive a crushing response.

CENTCOM statements from early June described prior Iranian missile launches toward Kuwait and Bahrain that were intercepted or fell short, with U.S. and partner forces defeating multiple ballistic missiles and drones.

No new CENTCOM statement specifically addressing the June 28 claims was identified in our intel sweep.

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• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the drone attacks by Iran that targeted Bahrain. It also called the attacks “a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and a threat to its security and stability.”

• Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on June 27 strongly condemning the Iranian drone attacks on Bahrain as “a blatant violation of its sovereignty and international law.” The Kuwaiti ministry noted that continuation of the attacks undermines ongoing regional de-escalation efforts.

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The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated it had targeted US-linked positions in Bahrain in response to US strikes on Iranian missile, drone, and radar facilities and warned that if repeated, its response will be broader.

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The official CENTCOM release detailed the strikes as a response to the ship attack and noted that the action violated the existing ceasefire. The IRGC said that it targeted U.S. positions within the region in response.

Iranian state media, including Nour News and Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), said at least three explosions heard near the coastal city of Sirik in Hormozgan Province on June 26, consistent with the targeted locations.

The attack on the vessel occurred on a new United Nations-backed route along the Omani coast.

Iran had issued warnings that vessels not obeying its designated routes would be “dealt with,” according to Iranian state media.

Attack on M/V Ever Lovely

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Hours earlier on June 20, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that commercial traffic through the same Strait had increased, with 55 merchant ships transiting and moving more than 17 million barrels of oil to global markets, according to its own statement.

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U.S. Vice President JD Vance said the Strait remains open, while President Donald J. Trump stated there would be no tolls in the waterway during the 60-day ceasefire period and none afterward unless imposed by the United States.

The two governments, the principal parties to the June 17 framework, stated opposite positions on whether the Strait was open even as their negotiators gathered in Switzerland.

Current Traffic Status

Commercial traffic through the Strait rose on June 20 after a stretch of near-zero volumes during the blockade and closure periods, according to CENTCOM.

The command said safe passage “remained intact today as 55 merchant ships transited,” moving large amounts of cargo and the 17 million barrels cited above. Ship-tracking data had shown transits collapse toward zero during the earlier closures.

Independent ship-tracking measured the resumption as real but smaller than the U.S. figure. The International Monetary Fund’s PortWatch choke-point monitor recorded transits near zero through June 14, against a pre-crisis norm of about 94 ships per day.

The commercial ship-tracking firm Kpler counted at least 20 tankers crossing on June 18, its highest since June 2, and about 25 vessels across all classes that day, of which 18 followed the route Iran designated.

That total stayed well below the pre-war norm of more than 100 ships a day, and no independent tracker matched CENTCOM’s June 20 figure of 55 ships.

According to the Institute for the Study of War, Iran has replaced the pre-war “traffic separation scheme” with one of its own across the Strait, routing transit through waters Tehran claims to control.

That mechanism lets Iran shape passage without firing on a ship, which is part of why the two sides can present the same water as both open and closed at once.

The cost of moving oil through the choke-point has climbed sharply. War-risk insurance for a single transit reached roughly 3 to 8 percent of a vessel’s hull value for seven days, about $3 million to $8 million for a large tanker against pre-crisis levels near 0.001 percent, according to the reinsurance broker Howden Re and S&P Global Commodity Insights.

Industry trackers reported roughly 100 container ships held inside the Gulf, awaiting clearer routing guidance.

Assessment: The 55-ship total represents a significant increase compared to the near-zero traffic during the late-February blockade, but a single day of activity does not eliminate the underlying closure risk.

Insurance underwriters continue to base pricing on the standing closure declaration rather than daily transit figures. As a result, the cost of coverage provides a more reliable indicator of control over the lane than ship counts alone.

Maritime Security Advisories and Threat Level

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The agreement declares an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon. It begins removal of the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports within 30 days.

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Iran commits to best-effort safe commercial passage through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days with no charge. The MOU provides for U.S. waivers on Iranian oil exports and access to frozen assets.

• It outlines a $300 billion reconstruction plan with regional partners. The agreement maintains the nuclear status quo pending final talks.

• It launches exclusive negotiations toward a final deal within a maximum 60 days, extendable by mutual consent, to be endorsed by a binding UN Security Council resolution.

The MOU was read out by a senior U.S. official on a conference call and released in full text. Iranian state media published detailed statements framing the agreement from Tehran’s perspective.

Those statements emphasize complete distrust toward an unreliable adversary, strict monitoring, conditional acceptance tied to protection of Iranian national rights and the Resistance Front, and that any breach by the US will trigger a reciprocal response in accordance with a pre-established plan.

Iranian Supreme Leader approval was granted in a written statement noting initial disagreement but ultimate acceptance to protect national interests.

Full Text of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding

The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran have jointly agreed in good faith on the following:

1. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran and their allies in the current war, by signing this MOU, declare the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and undertake from now on not to initiate any war or any military operation against each other, and to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other and ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon. The final deal will confirm the permanent termination of the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and other provisions of this paragraph.

2. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran undertake to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to refrain from interfering in each other’s internal affairs.

3. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran commit to negotiating and achieving the final deal in a maximum of 60 days, extendable with mutual consent.

4. The United States begins immediate removal of its naval blockade and impediments against Iran and will fully end the blockade within 30 days. Vessel traffic will be restored proportionally to pre-war levels. The United States undertakes to remove its forces from proximity of Iran within 30 days after the final deal.

5. Iran will use its best efforts for safe commercial vessel passage from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa with no charge for 60 days. Traffic starts immediately. De-mining and obstacle removal will occur within 30 days. Iran will conduct dialog with Oman and other littoral states on future administration and maritime services in line with international law and sovereign rights of coastal states.

6. The United States, with regional partners, will develop a definitive, mutually agreed plan of at least $300 billion for Iran’s reconstruction and economic development. The implementation mechanism will be finalized in the final deal within 60 days. All required licenses and waivers will be granted.

7. The United States undertakes to terminate all sanctions, including United Nations Security Council resolutions, IAEA Board of Governors resolutions, and unilateral U.S. primary and secondary sanctions, per an agreed schedule in the final deal. Both sides acknowledge the critical importance of sanctions termination and express intent to address it immediately in negotiations.

8. Iran reaffirms it shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons. The parties agree to resolve the disposition of stockpiled enriched material via a mutually agreed mechanism with minimum methodology of down-blending on site under IAEA supervision, per the sanctions termination schedule. They will discuss enrichment and other nuclear needs based on a satisfactory framework in the final deal. Both sides acknowledge the critical importance of nuclear issues and express intent to address them immediately in negotiations.

9. Pending the final deal, the parties agree to maintain the status quo. Iran will maintain the current status of its nuclear program. The United States will impose no new sanctions and deploy no additional forces in the region.

10. The U.S. Treasury will issue immediate waivers, until sanctions termination, for export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products, derivatives, and all associated services including banking, insurance, and transportation.

11. The United States undertakes to make frozen or restricted Iranian funds and assets fully available for use upon MOU implementation. Procedures will be mutually agreed during negotiations. Funds will be usable for payments to beneficiaries designated by Iran’s Central Bank. The United States will issue all necessary licenses.

12. An executive mechanism will be established to monitor successful implementation of the MOU and future compliance with the final deal.

13. After signing and subject to beginning and continuing implementation of paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 10, and 11, the parties will start exclusive negotiations on the final deal for the remaining paragraphs.

14. The final deal will be endorsed by a binding United Nations Security Council resolution.

Assessment: The full text above constitutes the authoritative public record of the framework agreement released by U.S. officials on June 17. It establishes clear timelines for ceasefire implementation, blockade removal, Hormuz passage, sanctions relief, asset access, and a 60-day negotiation window for a final deal.

The text also codifies monitoring mechanisms and a requirement for UN Security Council endorsement of any final agreement. These provisions create measurable benchmarks for compliance tracking through July.

Iranian Official Framing and Conditions

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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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