Trump Reaches Deal with Iran to Reopen Strait of Hormuz

Donald Trump reached a peace agreement with Iran to end hostilities and lift a U.S. blockade, allowing the Strait of Hormuz to reopen as early as Friday. The deal, scheduled for signing in Switzerland, follows a period of volatility where the waterway was closed by Iran after U.S. and Israeli strikes in February and again following Israeli operations in southern Lebanon.

While the agreement restores oil flow, it leaves Iran's nuclear plans for future negotiations. To ensure stability, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron announced a defensive mission to protect shipping vessels, including the deployment of autonomous mine-hunting equipment and fighter jets. The United Nations has urged all parties to honor the memorandum of understanding to maintain global stability.

Conflict remains regarding the waterway's operational status. Oman informed European officials that ships may face fees for navigation assistance or de-pollution services, while Iran insists on jointly managing traffic with Oman. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that a formal peace deal requires the strait to remain toll-free. To resolve these discrepancies, President Macron is scheduled to meet Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Paris on Monday to discuss unconditional maritime passage.