Trump signs memo
By Reuters June 17, 2026
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed the memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war with Iran, a White House official told Reuters.
The United States and Iran have virtually signed a memorandum of understanding
India Today News Desk:17-06-2026
The United States and Iran have virtually signed a memorandum of understanding to end nearly four months of conflict, marking the most significant breakthrough since the war erupted earlier this year.
Senior US officials told news agency Reuters on Monday that the memorandum had already been signed by US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. A formal signing ceremony is expected to take place on Friday, while full details of the agreement are likely to be released within the next 48 hours.
FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT REACHED
The memorandum lays the foundation for a peace agreement between Washington and Tehran, although officials indicated that several key issues still require further negotiations. According to US officials, the agreement establishes a framework for de-escalation and sets the stage for technical talks on unresolved matters.
The accord comes after months of fighting that began following joint US-Israeli military strikes on Iran in February and subsequent Iranian attacks on US interests and regional allies.
While both sides have agreed to the framework, negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme are expected to continue separately under a future process. The agreement is also linked to efforts to halt hostilities on multiple fronts across the region.
HORMUZ SHIPPING EXPECTED TO RECOVER
One of the most immediate effects of the agreement could be the gradual reopening of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy chokepoints.
A senior US official said commercial traffic through the waterway is already beginning to recover.
"You will see significant increase in traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, actually starting already, and that will ramp up slowly over time," the official said during a briefing with reporters.
The official cautioned that shipping activity would not immediately return to pre-war levels.
"We probably won't return to normal in two weeks, but we will see a significant increase in strait traffic," the official said.
The reopening of the strategic passage is expected to bring relief to global energy markets that have faced months of uncertainty amid disruptions in the Gulf.
This is a developing story. It will be updated.
