Source: Fortune
Summary
The United States and Iran have reached an agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to Pakistan. The deal, to be signed on Friday in Switzerland, aims to bring relief to the global economy after more than three months of conflict. US President Donald Trump confirmed the agreement, stating that he had authorized an end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports.
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The numbers tell one story. The deal largely returns to a status that existed before the war, with thousands of people dead and Iran wielding new negotiating power. The US and Iran have agreed to end military operations, with mediators facilitating technical talks. The deal does not improve on the terms of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, according to critics. Trump has praised the relationship with Iran as “more professional” as his administration sought an exit from the war.
The US had sought the removal of enriched uranium from Iran as part of a deal, with Russia offering to take it. Iran has 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60% purity, a short step from weapons-grade levels.
The deal had been sharply criticized by Israel’s government and by critics in Trump’s own Republican Party.
The agreement comes after a historic face-to-face meeting between Vice President JD Vance and Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf ended without success.
Iran has emphasized that it wanted a deal to focus on ending the war, with discussions put off until later on its nuclear program.
At times, Trump said he wanted the uranium destroyed.
Iran has long maintained its nuclear program is peaceful and has not publicly committed to giving up the enriched uranium.
Author: Evan Null
