Vice President JD Vance announced Thursday that the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to end their war and lift sanctions.
The agreement marks a significant shift in Middle East diplomacy by reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending a naval blockade on Iranian ports. This move aims to stabilize global energy markets and cease active hostilities between the two governments.
During a White House press briefing held at 11:00 a.m. ET [1], Vance said the details of the deal signed by President Donald Trump. The memorandum focuses on the immediate cessation of conflict and the restoration of maritime traffic in one of the world's most critical shipping lanes.
Vance said the U.S. has lifted the blockade on Iranian ports as part of the new arrangement. He said that more than 12 ships have already passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the blockade was lifted [2].
The briefing took place in the White House press room in Washington, D.C., where the administration outlined the steps for implementing the deal. The agreement includes the removal of specific sanctions that had previously restricted Iranian trade, and movement.
Officials said the memorandum is designed to provide a framework for long-term peace. By reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the administration intends to ensure the free flow of commerce and reduce the risk of naval skirmishes in the region.
The U.S. government has not yet released the full text of the memorandum, but the briefing served as the formal public announcement of the diplomatic breakthrough.
“The agreement marks a significant shift in Middle East diplomacy by reopening the Strait of Hormuz.”
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is a critical development for global oil supplies, as a large percentage of the world's petroleum passes through this narrow waterway. By lifting the naval blockade and signing a memorandum of understanding, the U.S. is pivoting from a policy of maximum pressure toward a diplomatic framework intended to prevent a full-scale regional war.
