United States and Iran Reach Ceasefire Agreement

The United States and Iran reached an agreement on June 15, 2026, to establish a ceasefire and end their ongoing war. The deal includes a memorandum of understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and finalize a nuclear agreement. Key terms involve the phased lifting of U.S. sanctions and the release of frozen Iranian assets in exchange for the removal of naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days and the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the government of Qatar served as primary mediators in the negotiations. On June 13, Sharif announced that a peace deal was nearly ready for signature, while Iranian officials expressed optimism regarding the timeline for the memorandum of understanding. U.S. President Donald Trump coordinated with allies, including the leaders of Egypt, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, during a G7 summit in France to discuss the wind-down of the conflict.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the agreement as a critical step for regional stability and global economic relief. He emphasized that any lasting peace depends on the robust and verifiable implementation of commitments concerning Iran's nuclear program. The governments of the United Kingdom and France have pledged to support a multilateral mission to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz once the conflict pause is established.

Separately, Iran announced that funeral services for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the war's opening attack, will be held between July 4 and 9.