U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the deal with Iran is “all signed”, without elaborating on whether Iran also signed the document.
Trump shared this while speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron in Evian-les-Bains, where the G7 summit is taking place.
This comes after a senior US official earlier said thad Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf signed the agreement yesterday.
Trump said that the “deal’s all signed, and the Strait is already partially opened,” adding that the waterway will be “completely open” by Friday.
Also, Trump stated that Iran has agreed not to have a nuclear weapon, promising that the stipulation will be enforced by “strong policing.” Although he provided few other details about the agreement’s contents, Trump said the text will be released “very soon.”
Additionally, Trump signalled positivity about future relations with Iran, saying that he “got along very well” with “the third set” of Iranian leaders and that “hopefully it’s going to be a good relationship.”
US Military Says Iran Blockade Still In Effect
Meanwhile, the U.S. military said in an advisory to merchant ships that the blockade of shipping to Iranian ports will remain in place “pending execution” of the ceasefire deal scheduled for Friday. “Do not attempt to cross until explicit direction is given,” Monday’s notice said.
The advisory went on to tell ship captains to consider “the health and safety of their crews” and to not try to sail to or from Iranian ports “until direction is given.” It warned ships that they should follow directions from those enforcing the blockade and “failure to immediately comply may result in rapid escalation to disabling or destructive fire.”
Before the advisory, Trump stated that ships are starting to move through the Strait of Hormuz. “Ships are starting to move, many loaded up with Oil, out of the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote.
The statement came after both the US and Iran announced plans to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ending the US-Israeli war with Iran on Friday.
While no official text of that agreement has been released, both sides have said the initial deal would see the Strait of Hormuz open, the US naval blockade on Iranian ports lifted, and fighting halted on all fronts. More entrenched issues, including the future of Iran’s nuclear programme, its support for proxies in the region, the unfreezing of Iranian assets, and the lifting of sanctions were expected to be addressed during a 60-day negotiation period.
Referring to a shipping route in the strait that traverses Oman’s territorial waters, Trump said that the ships are going “along the Southern ‘Highway,’ which is totally safe, secure, and pristine.” “There are other areas of travel, also!!!” Trump added.
Official details of the plan to open the strait have not been released, nor has the thornier question of its future administration. The waterway had been open prior to the US and Israel launching attacks on Iran on February 28. Experts have warned that the conflict has reinforced the strait’s significance as a key point of leverage for Iran, enabling it to effectively close the route or levy tolls.
Today, US Vice President JD Vance told a news agency that he expected the strait to be “opened in a toll-free way for the long term.” He added the issue would be discussed in “technical negotiations.”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, on the other hand, indicated that “fees” will be charged. “Our goal is to pave the way for a secure passage in this waterway,” he said, adding, “We need a certain period of time to discuss with the other sides this important matter.”
Maritime Operations To Take Months To Return To Normal
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has recorded 46 US and Iranian attacks on international shipping lines throughout the conflict. While international oil markets rebounded following the positive signals towards a deal, if the strait were to be fully reopened, it is expected to take months for operations to return to normal.
Today, shipping and maritime security forces told a news agency that mine-sweeping operations could continue for 40 to 50 days before many insurance and shipping companies would be confident enough to permit passage through the arterial waterway. Some companies, however, have indicated they will start transiting sooner.
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has said about 500 ships are waiting to pass through the strait, with about 20,000 stranded crew.
Trump said that he will discuss de-mining efforts during the Group of Seven (G7) Summit.
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