The United States and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding intended to end the 2026 war, mediators announced, capping a conflict that drew in much of the Middle East and disrupted global trade since hostilities began in late February.
The framework was unveiled by mediators on June 14 and signed by the two countries' presidents on June 17, according to reporting on the talks. It sets a 60-day window to formalize an end to the fighting and to wind down the military operations that halted regional air travel and rerouted shipping away from the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
What the deal covers
Under the terms described by negotiators, the parties agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and to lift a blockade of Iranian ports, steps designed to restore the flow of energy and commercial goods through one of the world's most important maritime corridors.
Analysts cautioned that a memorandum is not a final treaty, and that the 60-day timeline leaves room for disputes over verification and sequencing. Still, officials framed the signing as the most significant de-escalation since the war began.
