Oil tankers began moving through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday as an interim agreement between the United States and Iran came into effect, marking a tentative de-escalation in a conflict that has disrupted global energy markets and heightened regional tensions.
The partial reopening of maritime traffic through the strategic waterway (which carries around one-fifth of global oil shipments) helped push oil prices to their lowest level since early March, as traders priced in the return of normal export flows in the coming months.
The United States said it had lifted its blockade measures on Iran as part of the phased deal, although officials cautioned that key political and security issues remain unresolved.
The agreement establishes a 60-day window for negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme, alongside broader discussions on regional security and missile capabilities.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance is expected to lead the American negotiating team in talks that Washington says will focus on limiting Iran’s long-range missile development while preventing further escalation.
The framework also reportedly includes proposals for a $300 billion reconstruction package for Iran and wider regional economic incentives, although details remain under negotiation.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei struck a defiant tone, saying U.S. President Donald Trump signed the agreement “out of desperation” and warning that upcoming negotiations would be difficult if Washington imposes additional demands.
“If the American side wants to be too demanding, we will not accept it,” he said in a written message, signalling that Tehran is not prepared to concede on core nuclear or security issues.
Iran has also indicated it will continue to regulate shipping through the Strait of Hormuz during the interim period, although it will suspend transit fees while talks continue.
Despite the maritime de-escalation, fighting continued in Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah positions, underscoring the fragility of the wider agreement.
Israeli officials, who were not part of the negotiations, have signalled they do not intend to withdraw forces from occupied areas in southern Lebanon, releasing updated military maps showing an expanded presence.
The developments have raised questions over whether the ceasefire framework can hold beyond the initial negotiating period, particularly as implementation diverges across different theatres of the conflict.
In the United States, the agreement has sparked criticism from some Republican lawmakers aligned with Trump, who argue the administration has conceded too much in pursuit of a rapid end to the war.
However, Trump defended the deal, saying Washington remains committed to securing a lasting peace across the Middle East and urging regional actors to support the negotiations.
U.S. officials maintain that while the current agreement is limited in scope, it could still form the basis of a broader and more durable settlement if talks progress over the next two months.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has promised to avenge the killing of his father, while U.S. President Donald Trump said Tehran and Washin...
A Miami-based tycoon wanted in Albania for allegedly laundering drug money is suspected of faking the deeds to land where Donald Trump’s son-in-law ...
Turkish prosecutors have ordered the detention of 36 people, including the mayor of an Ankara district controlled by the main opposition, over alleged...
A Miami-based tycoon wanted in Albania for allegedly laundering drug money is suspected of faking the deeds to land where Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner wants to build a controversial multi-billion dollar resort, the country’s organised crime agency said in case files reviewed by Reuters.
Turkish prosecutors have ordered the detention of 36 people, including the mayor of an Ankara district controlled by the main opposition, over alleged bribery and tender-rigging.
A 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murdering British politician Ann Widdecombe has been released and is no longer part of the investigation, UK police have said.
Israel's decision to recognise the so-called Armenian genocide has triggered diplomatic tensions with Azerbaijan, one of its closest strategic partners.
It has been a punishing week for large parts of China, and forecasters warn the worst may not be over. After Typhoon Maysak left a trail of destruction and at least 23 people dead, Super Typhoon Bavi is now threatening the country's eastern coast.
At least 12 people have been killed in forest fires in Almeria in southern Spain, Andalucía’s emergency agency has said, as firefighters continue efforts to put out the blaze.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to resume talks with Iran after Tehran requested further negotiations, but declared that last month's ceasefire between the two countries was "over".
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in the latest escalation to derail efforts to end the war.
Dozens of flights have been cancelled across East Asia as Super Typhoon Bavi approaches China. The typhoon, which has maximum sustained winds of 162 kph (100mph), is nearing a remote chain of Japanese islands, east of Taiwan on Friday.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has promised to avenge the killing of his father, while U.S. President Donald Trump said Tehran and Washington had agreed to continue talks despite an escalation of hostilities this week.
Iran planned to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump, according to intelligence shared with Washington by Israel, the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in the latest escalation to derail efforts to end the war.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict was "over", adding he did not want to engage with Tehran, calling the Iranian leadership "sick people".
Wednesday marks the fifth day of the massive public farewell funeral processions of its former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a U.S.-Israeli air strike in February.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment