The United States has officially dropped its naval blockade of Iran after the two nations signed a landmark agreement aimed at ending the devastating war in the Middle East.
US Central Command confirmed the end of the blockade on X, stating the move was made “in accordance with the President’s direction,” though some US military vessels will remain in the general area for security purposes.
Khamenei Breaks His Silence
Shortly after the announcement, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei publicly responded to the agreement for the first time. In his first public appearance since taking office in March—following the killing of his father in US-Israeli strikes—Khamenei delivered a fiery statement.
He revealed that he approved the US deal despite holding a “different view,” allowing it to proceed only after receiving strict assurances from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that the “rights of the Iranian nation” would be protected.
“President Trump, out of desperation, used all kinds of leverage to bring this deal about,” Khamenei declared. He further warned that while future in-person negotiations will happen, this “will not mean acceptance of the enemy’s position.”
Donald Trump did not reply directly to Khamenei but took to Truth Social to express his expectations for a ceasefire “on all fronts,” including the ongoing heavy conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The 14-Point Mega Deal
The newly signed US-Iran agreement is centered around 14 core points. The most critical conditions include:
- Reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route.
- A strict requirement that Iran must permanently abandon any nuclear weapon ambitions and destroy its stockpile of enriched uranium.
- A massive $300 billion fund dedicated to the “reconstruction and economic development” of Iran, though the US is not legally required to contribute to it.
Both sides are bound to finalize a permanent deal within a “maximum” 60-day window. While an official signing ceremony was scheduled in Switzerland, the agreement was instead signed remotely. US Vice-President JD Vance confirmed that “technical negotiations” in Switzerland will still follow.
Heavy Backlash and US-Israel Tensions
Trump’s decision to end the conflict has sparked massive outrage among Republicans and US allies. Senator Bill Cassidy blasted the agreement as the “worst foreign policy blunder in decades,” warning that Iran’s nuclear ambitions remain a threat.
Vice-President JD Vance fiercely defended the deal, specifically firing back at Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who heavily criticized the peace pact.
“If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world,” Vance told reporters. “You’re a country of nine million people. You can’t just kill your way out of solving every single national security problem that you have.”
Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, the region remains a powder keg. Both Israel and Hezbollah have continued trading deadly airstrikes since the US-Iran deal was announced, proving that true peace in the Middle East is still a long way off.
