Published
Jun 17, 2026 at 01:37 PM EDT
updated
Jun 17, 2026 at 07:53 PM EDT
Breaking News Editor
The United States and Iran have reached a draft agreement to halt the war and restart nuclear negotiations.
The deal pauses a Middle East conflict that disrupted global energy markets, but critics say it stops short of resolving concerns over Iran’s nuclear program. When finalized, it would temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, ease pressure on Iran through sanctions waivers and set off a new round of high-stakes talks.
U.S. officials said the framework requires Iran to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium while allowing economic relief in return. Israel, which was not a party to the negotiations and has signaled it will maintain military operations against Iran-backed forces, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, could see its security posture directly affected by the deal’s provisions.
Newsweek has reached out to the Israeli Foreign Ministry via email on Wednesday afternoon for comment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote Tuesday on X, “With an agreement, without an agreement – as long as I am the Prime Minister of Israel, Iran will not have nuclear weapons.”
The White House said President Donald Trump digitally signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on ending the war in Iran while at Versailles on Wednesday, though no cameras were present as the president concluded his trip to France for the G7 Summit. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reportedly given his digital signature to the agreement as well.
Versailles has long served as a venue for major diplomatic agreements, including treaties ending wars and territorial disputes. The most notable remains the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, which formally ended World War I; its punitive terms against Germany are widely seen by historians as contributing to the conditions that led to World War II.
Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran has jointly agreed in good faith on on the following:
Trump hinted at an upcoming diplomatic visit from Lebanon but did not clarify who would attend, alternately referring to the country’s president and prime minister and suggesting the trip could take place in “the next week or two.”
Trump also voiced sympathy for Lebanon on Wednesday while criticizing Israeli tactics, describing them as a source of tension with Netanyahu. He said he had urged Netanyahu to take a “softer touch,” rather than respond forcefully to Hezbollah-related threats.
The president said he “feels bad” for Lebanon, praising its history and cultural legacy while lamenting its decline over recent decades.
The United States and Israel launched strikes on February 28 in part to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, though President Trump’s stated goals have shifted throughout the conflict. The interim agreement pauses fighting before that objective is reached, opening a two-month window for renewed nuclear talks while granting Iran several upfront concessions.
The U.S. agreement to immediately allow Iran to sell its oil freely and the offer to eventually lift all sanctions represent major concessions—going beyond the 2015 nuclear deal and potentially paving the way for up to $300 billion in post-war reconstruction funding for Iran.
The agreement is still expected to face strong opposition in Washington and could prove politically difficult for Netanyahu, who has drawn criticism in Israel as details have emerged.
“I want to see it myself,” Senator Lindsey Graham said Tuesday. “The way Iran describes it is awful. The way we describe it makes sense to me.” A day later, the South Carolina Republican signaled cautious support, saying the memorandum could help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end hostilities.
Graham added on X that it remains unclear whether a verifiable nuclear deal can be reached, but argued there is “little downside to trying,” pointing to the potential economic stability from reopened shipping lanes and a ceasefire. He said expanding the Abraham Accords and normalizing ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel remain key goals that depend on reduced regional conflict.
Republican Representative Rand Paul of Kentucky wrote on X, “I’ve spent my career warning against regime change wars, nation-building, and endless military entanglements. The same voices now attacking Trump’s Iran deal are the architects of every failed intervention of my lifetime. This war must end. I stand with President Trump on peace.”
But other Republicans sharply criticized the framework. Senator Bill Cassidy said on X that Iran’s nuclear ambitions remain unchecked and warned Tehran has learned it can leverage threats to the Strait of Hormuz, calling the agreement “the worst foreign policy blunder in decades.” He argued the deal trades sanctions pressure for concessions while leaving the core threat unresolved.
Senator Ted Cruz also took a tougher stance, warning against providing financial relief to Iran.
“History teaches that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is a bad idea,” Cruz said on X, arguing it is not in U.S. interests to fund the rebuilding of capabilities targeted in the strikes.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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