The United States has officially lifted its naval blockade of Iran following the signing of a landmark agreement aimed at ending months of conflict across the Middle East.
US Central Command confirmed that the blockade had been withdrawn in accordance with President Donald Trump’s directive, although several American naval assets will remain stationed in the region as a precautionary measure.
Shortly after the announcement, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei publicly endorsed the agreement for the first time, saying he approved the deal despite holding reservations about it.
Khamenei said he accepted the arrangement after receiving assurances from President Masoud Pezeshkian that Iran’s national interests and sovereign rights would be protected throughout the process.
He also accused President Trump of exerting significant pressure to secure the agreement, claiming Washington had used every available form of leverage to bring both sides to the negotiating table.
While expressing support for the accord, Khamenei stressed that future face-to-face negotiations between Tehran and Washington should not be interpreted as Iran accepting the position of its adversaries.
The statement marked Khamenei’s first public comments since the agreement was signed and his first major appearance since assuming office in March following the death of his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during US-Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year.
President Trump did not directly respond to Khamenei’s remarks. However, he posted on Truth Social that he expects ceasefires to take hold across multiple fronts, including between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
At the heart of the agreement are 14 key provisions, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, guarantees that Iran will not pursue nuclear weapons, and the establishment of a US$300 billion reconstruction and economic development fund for Iran, although Washington is not obligated to finance it.
The memorandum also commits both countries to reaching a comprehensive final agreement within 60 days, with the possibility of an extension if both sides agree.
Although a formal signing ceremony had been scheduled to take place in Switzerland on Friday, mediators confirmed that the agreement was instead signed remotely, making the ceremony unnecessary. Nevertheless, American and Iranian representatives are still expected to meet in Switzerland for follow-up technical discussions.
US Vice-President JD Vance said the agreement has already come into force, officially triggering the 60-day negotiation period.
He added that further talks would focus on technical matters, including verification mechanisms and implementation details, although travel arrangements for the next round of negotiations are still being finalised.
The deal has generated mixed reactions in Washington, with several Republican lawmakers criticising its terms, particularly the reconstruction fund and concerns that Iran’s regional influence remains intact.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy described the agreement as one of the most serious foreign policy mistakes in recent decades, arguing that Iran’s nuclear ambitions had not been sufficiently curtailed.
Vance rejected those criticisms, insisting that Iran would not receive financial benefits or sanctions relief unless it fulfilled its obligations under the memorandum.
According to the vice-president, Iran is required to eliminate its stockpile of enriched uranium and demonstrate that it will cease supporting proxy groups operating throughout the region.
Vance also responded sharply to criticism from members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, arguing that continued confrontation was not a sustainable solution to regional security challenges.
Despite the agreement, tensions remain high. Israel and Hezbollah have continued exchanging strikes in recent days, including attacks reported in Beirut that resulted in civilian casualties.
Israeli officials maintain that operations against Hezbollah are separate from the conflict involving Iran, while Hezbollah has publicly rejected elements of the new US-Iran agreement.
Nevertheless, Washington has expressed hope that the deal will pave the way for broader regional stability and create momentum for further diplomatic breakthroughs in the Middle East.
