US and Iran Negotiate Deal to End War and Open Strait of Hormuz

The United States and Iran are closing in on a potential agreement to end their 12-week war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping [1]. President Donald Trump, who has yet to sign off on the final terms, recently edited the memorandum of understanding to prioritize the destruction of Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile and the guaranteed reopening of the strait [3].

Negotiations remain sensitive, with an Iranian delegation led by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf traveling to Qatar on Monday for further talks [1]. While President Trump described the process as "proceeding nicely," he warned that the alternative to a successful deal is a return to a conflict "bigger and stronger than ever before" [1]. Iran currently holds 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60% purity, a level just short of the 90% required for weapons-grade material [1]. Under the draft proposal, this stockpile would be either diluted or transferred to a third country, such as Russia [1].

The conflict has severely disrupted global trade, as the strait typically handles roughly 20% of the world’s oil [1]. The emerging deal proposes a gradual reopening of the waterway in parallel with the U.S. lifting its April 17 blockade of Iranian ports [1]. This would allow Iran to resume oil exports through sanctions waivers, with a 60-day window set for negotiating the release of frozen funds and specific sanctions relief [1].

Despite the diplomatic progress, the ceasefire remains fragile. On Monday, the U.S. military conducted strikes on missile launch sites and mine-laying boats in southern Iran, citing the need to protect troops from ongoing threats [1]. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, denounced the strikes as a violation of the ceasefire and a sign of "bad faith" [1]. Simultaneously, Israel has continued military operations against Hezbollah targets in Beirut, complicating the push for a comprehensive truce [3].

Significant hurdles remain before any agreement can be finalized. Iran continues to insist that a ceasefire in Lebanon is an essential condition for ending the war, while the U.S. maintains that Israel must retain the right to act against imminent threats in self-defense [1]. Furthermore, while the U.S. has pushed for the removal of Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities, Iranian officials have publicly stated that they are not currently discussing the details of their nuclear program at the negotiating table [1].

Whether the two sides can bridge the gap between their stated security requirements and the economic relief Iran demands remains the central question for the 60-day negotiation window.