Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
US President Donald Trump declared Sunday that Washington and Tehran had completed a long-awaited agreement to end months of conflict, announcing the immediate reopening of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and the removal of a US naval blockade that has disrupted global energy markets since the spring.
The announcement came in dramatic fashion just hours before Trump was scheduled to celebrate his 80th birthday at an unprecedented UFC event on the White House grounds, where thousands of guests were expected to gather for an evening of mixed martial arts fights and national celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary.
Posting on social media, Trump declared that “the Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete,” signaling what could become one of the most consequential diplomatic developments of his second term.
The president said he had authorized the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without tolls and ordered the immediate lifting of the American naval blockade that has restricted Iranian maritime activity for weeks.
“Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!” Trump wrote, portraying the agreement as a breakthrough that could ease pressure on global energy supplies and reduce tensions across the Middle East.
While the White House did not immediately release the full text of the agreement, reports indicated that a formal signing ceremony is expected to take place later this week in Switzerland. Key provisions reportedly include an end to military operations between the United States and Iran and measures aimed at restoring commercial shipping through one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
Pakistan, which has played a prominent mediating role during negotiations, announced that both sides had agreed to terminate military operations across all fronts, including Lebanon, where fighting involving Israel and Hezbollah has threatened to expand into a wider regional war.
The breakthrough emerged after months of conflict that began in late February and triggered severe economic disruptions worldwide. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz sent shockwaves through international energy markets because the narrow waterway serves as a critical route for a significant share of global oil and natural gas exports.
Despite the apparent diplomatic success, major questions remain unresolved. Iranian officials have yet to publicly disclose the full terms of the agreement, while several sensitive issues, including Tehran’s nuclear program, regional influence, and missile capabilities appear to have been deferred to future negotiations.
Iran continues to possess a substantial stockpile of highly enriched uranium, a central point of contention in previous talks with Western powers. Tehran has consistently maintained that its nuclear activities are intended for peaceful purposes, while the United States and its allies have sought guarantees preventing the material from being used for weapons development.
The agreement also appears to stop short of addressing several of the objectives originally cited by Washington and its allies at the start of the conflict. Iran retains influence through allied groups across the region, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, while questions surrounding the future of its nuclear infrastructure remain unanswered.
The emerging deal has already drawn criticism from some quarters. Opponents argue that it may not significantly improve upon previous diplomatic frameworks, including the 2015 nuclear agreement that Trump withdrew the United States from during his first presidency.
The timing of the announcement was particularly notable. Earlier Sunday, tensions briefly threatened to derail negotiations after Israel launched strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs following cross-border attacks from Lebanon. Trump publicly criticized the operation, warning that further escalation could jeopardize efforts to secure a broader regional settlement.
For now, however, the White House is presenting the agreement as a major diplomatic victory. Whether it evolves into a lasting peace arrangement or merely a temporary pause in hostilities will depend on negotiations expected to continue in the coming weeks.
As diplomats prepared for the formal signing process, attention in Washington shifted to the White House South Lawn, where Trump was set to celebrate both his birthday and the agreement he hopes will reshape the political landscape of the Middle East.
