Strait of Hormuz Reopens as US-Iran Ink MoU
GOOBJOOG NEWS|ISLAMABAD: Shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz is set to resume after the United States and Iran formally signed a mediated agreement aimed at ending more than three months of conflict that disrupted global energy supplies and heightened tensions across the Middle East.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Thursday that the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding” had been electronically signed by both Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian, bringing the agreement into immediate effect.
“As a first step, the Islamic Republic of Iran will instantly reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the United States of America will immediately lift the naval blockade,” Sharif said in a statement, describing the accord as a diplomatic breakthrough that had averted a wider regional crisis.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, handling roughly a fifth of global oil trade. Commercial shipping through the waterway had been severely disrupted during the conflict, triggering volatility in global energy markets and raising concerns among major oil-importing countries.
The agreement follows months of indirect negotiations mediated by Pakistan with support from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt. According to details released by U.S. and Iranian officials, the memorandum establishes an immediate halt to military operations, the reopening of maritime routes through the Strait of Hormuz, and the gradual removal of U.S. restrictions on Iranian trade and shipping while broader negotiations continue over Iran’s nuclear programme and sanctions relief.
A 60-day negotiating period is expected to begin immediately, during which both sides will seek to finalize a comprehensive settlement covering unresolved issues, including Iran’s nuclear activities, economic sanctions and regional security arrangements.
The signing marks the most significant diplomatic breakthrough between Washington and Tehran in years and comes after a conflict that destabilized energy markets and threatened to draw additional regional actors into the fighting. Reuters reported that the memorandum includes provisions for restoring safe commercial navigation through the Strait while the United States begins lifting its naval blockade around Iranian ports.
Early indications of renewed maritime traffic have already emerged, with shipping data showing vessels beginning to move toward the waterway following confirmation of the agreement. Analysts say the reopening is expected to ease pressure on global oil and liquefied natural gas markets, which have faced months of uncertainty due to the conflict.
In his statement, Sharif praised Trump and Iran’s leadership for embracing diplomacy and credited several regional countries for helping secure the deal. He also highlighted Pakistan’s role as a mediator, describing the agreement as a foundation for long-term peace, stability and economic recovery across the Middle East.
While the memorandum has entered into force, officials from both countries caution that the arrangement remains an interim framework and that substantial negotiations still lie ahead before a permanent settlement can be reached.