Fragile Truce on the Horizon: Iran Signals Breakthrough with US on Hormuz and Blockade

Iran’s top diplomat has expressed growing confidence that a comprehensive agreement to halt hostilities with the United States is nearly sealed, with the immediate prize being the reopening of the vital Strait of Hormuz.

Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi told state television that the emerging pact would also end America’s naval blockade on Iranian shipping. He indicated that broader discussions on Tehran’s nuclear program would follow in a separate phase.

US officials have partially corroborated the outline, stressing that any economic relief for Iran would be strictly conditional on verifiable compliance with the terms.

The conflict erupted dramatically on February 28 when US and Israeli forces carried out extensive strikes inside Iran. Tehran retaliated by targeting Israel and American partners across the Gulf while shutting down the Strait of Hormuz — the chokepoint carrying roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas traffic. Although a ceasefire was declared in April, sporadic clashes have persisted, including fresh exchanges earlier this week.

President Donald Trump added to the momentum on Thursday by announcing he had scrapped planned military action against Iran, citing a promising “great settlement” that could be formalized within days. Iranian media later circulated what it described as a 14-point framework, prompting Trump to dismiss the leaked version as inaccurate.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government played a mediating role alongside Qatar, stated Friday that the Memorandum of Understanding had been finalized in principle and now awaited only final approvals.

Inside Iran, Araghchi acknowledged divisions within the Supreme National Security Council between supporters and skeptics of the latest proposal. No final collective decision has been made, but he suggested that if approved, the deal could be signed remotely in the coming days. “I am very hopeful,” he said.

The agreement would not directly include Israel. It aims to solidify the ceasefire and open the door to negotiations on core disputes, particularly Iran’s nuclear activities. Western nations have long suspected Tehran of pursuing atomic weapons, a charge Iran has consistently denied, insisting its program serves only civilian energy and research needs.

According to a detailed US briefing, the immediate steps involve reopening the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for lifting the blockade on Iranian vessels. This would be followed by a 60-day window focused on Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. The material would be neutralized on-site and then extracted from the country under a mechanism still being finalized.

Economically, there would be no immediate cash or major unfreezing of assets. Instead, sanctions relief and reintegration into global markets would roll out gradually, tied to measurable progress. A key requirement is for Iran to sever financial support for regional proxy militias, including Hezbollah.

American officials described the framework as “performance-based,” leaving little room for trust alone. Benefits would flow only after independent verification of Iranian actions.

While mediators and both capitals project cautious optimism, past near-misses over recent months have tempered expectations. What feels different this time, according to US sources, is greater transparency and seriousness from all parties.

Araghchi emphasized that the very first element of the memorandum addresses ending the US naval blockade. On the Strait of Hormuz, he noted that management of the waterway “would no longer be the same as before.” Iran had been demanding fees from passing vessels during the closure, while Washington insists on unrestricted access.

The deal may also facilitate an end to fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, though earlier indications suggested Tehran wanted this linkage while the US preferred to keep it separate. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that his country will continue striking Hezbollah if attacks on northern Israel persist.

With the region exhausted by months of tension, all eyes now rest on whether this latest diplomatic push can bridge the remaining gaps before another cycle of escalation begins.