Trump says US-Iran MoU is signed, no sanctions relief as Strait of Hormuz partially reopens
US President Donald Trump said a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict in West Asia has already been signed by the United States and Iran. Speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at the G7 venue in Evian-les-Bains, Trump also said there would be no sanctions relief as part of the deal. He added that the Strait of Hormuz has partially reopened after a blockade that had disrupted Gulf oil supplies.
Sponsored
Trump told reporters that the agreement was already complete, saying: "The deal's all signed." When asked directly whether the arrangement included sanctions relief for Iran, he replied: "No, it doesn't." He said any easing of pressure would depend on behaviour, adding: "If they do what they're supposed to do, that starts taking effect." Trump also said the text of the memorandum would be released publicly, most likely after the formal signing on Friday. The reopening of the strategic waterway matters because the Strait of Hormuz is responsible for about 20% of global oil and gas supply. According to the account given, the partial reopening would help stabilise a three-month blockade of Gulf oil supplies that had caused major financial disruption across global markets.
The development also comes as Trump said the administration still wants to see whether it can "straight out" the conflict involving Lebanon and the Hezbollah militant group. The announcement places the focus on sanctions, verification and the practical effect of any agreement rather than on a broader political settlement. It also raises questions about how quickly any changes on the ground will translate into relief for energy markets and shipping routes.
For governments and traders, the key issue is whether the partial reopening becomes durable and whether the deal changes Iran's economic position at all. The row comes amid wider pressure for transparency over the terms of the understanding. New York's US Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called for the details to be published and for Congress to be briefed, asking what exactly was in the agreement and what had been gained.
Sponsored
That demand reflects the sensitivity of any US-Iran arrangement, particularly one linked to sanctions and regional security. What remains unclear is the full text of the memorandum, the exact scope of the partial reopening, and how the agreement will be implemented after Friday's formal signing. It is also not clear what, if any, concrete steps Iran must take before any future sanctions relief could be considered.
The next developments to watch are the publication of the document, any official confirmation from Tehran, and whether the reported reopening of the Strait of Hormuz holds.
Sponsored
