US and Iran announce peace deal with permanent end to military action

The United States and Iran have announced a peace agreement that includes an “immediate and permanent” cessation of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, according to Pakistani mediator Sheikh Sharif. The statement suggests that the more than three‑month conflict in the Middle East is drawing to a close.

Prime Minister Sheikh Sharif posted on X that a peace deal “has been REACHED” and that an official signing ceremony will take place on June 19 in Switzerland.

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the agreement in a statement on Sunday, the day he celebrated his 80th birthday. He declared, “I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade. Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!”

Iran has not yet issued a formal confirmation. Hours earlier, Iranian officials had pledged retaliation against an Israeli strike on Hezbollah positions in the suburbs of Beirut, an action that could have jeopardised the agreement. Iran declined to provide a clear timeline for the peace deal on Sunday.

Later in the day, Sheikh Sharif reiterated that a deal had been struck, thanking the United States and Iran for “finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict.” He noted that both sides had declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, and expressed gratitude to the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey for their mediation support.

The day was marked by tension, with Trump blaming Israel in the morning for delaying the signing of the agreement following the airstrike on Beirut. The last Israeli attack on the Beirut suburbs had triggered a strong response, with Iran launching a missile barrage and Israel conducting retaliatory strikes, disrupting a ceasefire that had largely held since April.

Tehran has long insisted that any ceasefire must also address the conflict in Lebanon, where Israel has been targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah. The war began in late February after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, which led to Iranian attacks on Israel and U.S. allies and a near‑complete blockade of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and natural gas supplies. The United States responded by blockading traffic to Iranian ports.

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