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Topic:War
Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 7:32am
Iran and the US, led by Donald Trump, have reached a peace deal after intensive talks. (Reuters: Evan Vucci)
A ceasefire deal has been reached between the US and Iran, with both sides confirming plans to end fighting and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
An official signing ceremony is expected in Switzerland this Friday, June 19.
Once the deal is signed, it will kick off 60 days of negotiations on topics such as Iran's nuclear program.
The United States and Iran have reached an agreement to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz, offering relief to the global economy after three months of fighting.
Iran war live updates: For the latest news on the Middle East crisis, read our blog.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has acted as a central mediator throughout the conflict, said the deal had been reached after extensive talks.
"Both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon," Mr Sharif said in a post on X.
He said the official signing ceremony would happen in Switzerland this Friday, June 19.
Shehbaz Sharif says a deal between the US and Iran is closer than ever before. (Reuters: Maxim Shemetov)
Full details of the deal were not immediately available.
But US President Donald Trump took to social media to confirm a deal had been reached, saying he had authorised an end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.
"Congratulations to all!" he wrote on Truth Social, without providing details. He added, "Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!"
Mr Trump said the strait, a critical shipping lane for global energy supplies that Iran has effectively shut down for months, would be open "toll free".
Donald Trump announced the deal on his Truth Social social media platform. (Screenshot: Truth Social)
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabad confirmed to Iranian state TV that a deal with the US had been finalised.
Iranian state media reported Pakistan's statement after a day in which Israel, sidelined from the negotiations, attacked Beirut's southern suburbs and posed a threat to the discussions nearing an end.
Before the US-Israel attacks on Iran, more than 100 commercial ships a day passed through the strait. (Reuters)
The signing of a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran is expected to kick off 60 days of negotiation on ending the war.
Mr Gharibabad said nuclear issues would be discussed during the 60 days.
Negotiations would also focus on ending sanctions, Iran's reconstruction and establishing a mechanism to monitor all parties' commitments to the deal, he added.
Charles Kupchan, professor of international affairs at Georgetown University and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said there would still be a long road ahead.
"It's important to underscore that this is an agreement that basically says, 'Let's open the Strait of Hormuz and then start talking about the really tough issues,'" he told ABC Radio National Breakfast.
Analysis by Matthew Doran
Analysis by Matthew Doran
Topic:Unrest, Conflict and War
Topic:Explainer
Topic:War
A senior Iranian official earlier told Reuters that, under the terms of the draft deal, the United States would agree to release $US25 billion ($35.5 billion) of frozen Iranian assets, while Iran would agree not to produce or acquire nuclear weapons.
The official said Iran agreed to maintain the nuclear status quo, including no uranium enrichment or expanding nuclear facilities, until a final deal was reached.
A US official, speaking before the deal was announced, said the agreement would ultimately lead to the dismantling of Iran's nuclear program, with its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to be destroyed and removed.
A senior Iranian official said the draft deal would allow Iran, which denies seeking a nuclear bomb, to dilute its enriched uranium inside the country.
People ride past an anti-US billboard in Tehran depicting Donald Trump and the Strait of Hormuz. (Reuters: Majid Asgaripour)
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the ceasefire, saying continued restraint and constructive engagement would be essential to preventing further escalation.
"We are pleased the agreement between the US and Iran includes steps towards reopening the Strait of Hormuz and the restoration of freedom of navigation," Mr Albanese said in a statement.
"We encourage all parties to use this opportunity to pursue a durable and lasting peace through dialogue and diplomacy. Iran must address longstanding concerns about its nuclear program and the threat it poses to international security."
Thousands of people have been killed, mostly in Iran and Lebanon, since US and Israeli forces first attacked Iran on February 28.
US President Donald Trump maintains the deal to end conflict with Iran will be signed despite Iran's doubts.
Iran has struck Israel and Gulf states hosting US bases and effectively blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, pushing up global energy prices.
US forces have blocked Iranian ports in response.
Lebanon has been a sticking point in negotiations, with Israel and Hezbollah ignoring calls from Mr Trump and others to stop their attacks on each other in recent weeks.
Mr Trump had criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for weekend strikes on Beirut, saying the actions were delaying the signing of the ceasefire deal.
There was no immediate reaction to the announcement from Israel, which has said it was not a party to the planned US-Iran agreement.
Emergency personnel work at the site of an Israeli strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut. (Reuters: Mohamed Azakir)
Iranian negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf earlier said Israel's latest attack on the southern suburbs of Beirut, which Israel said targeted Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants, showed the US lacked "the will and ability to fulfil your commitments" in a post on X.
Professor Kupchan said Mr Netanyahu's actions in Lebanon could still derail negotiations.
"I don't think the Israelis are very happy about this ceasefire," he said.
"He's [Mr Netanyahu's] got unfinished business on every front as Hezbollah continues to launch missiles and drones into Israel.
"So it's going to be hard to kind of keep the ceasefire between Iran and the United States going if we see more and more fighting between Israel and Hezbollah."
ABC/Wires
Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 7:32am
Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 12:11pm
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Iran, Islamic Republic Of
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Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 8:01pm
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Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 6:49pm
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