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Can the US-Iran deal survive a defiant Israel and Hormuz uncertainties?

The deal between the US and Iran aims to halt the war and energy disruptions that have rattled the global economy, but observers warn the…

By Samantha Johnson / June 18, 2026
The deal between the US and Iran aims to halt the war and energy disruptions that have rattled the global economy, but observers warn the agreement is built on ground too shaky to guarantee a lasting peace.
US President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian electronically signed a long-anticipated memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Wednesday to end the US-Israel war on Iran.

Trump signed it at a dinner at the Palace of Versailles, where he was joined by French President Emmanuel Macron and French first lady Brigitte Macron.

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Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a key mediator, posted on social media that the “Islamabad MOU” would enter into force with immediate effect and, as a first step, Iran would instantly reopen the Strait of Hormuz while the US would “immediately lift the naval blockade”.

On the surface, the 14-point deal meant that Washington had made far greater concessions than Tehran, said Niu Xinchun, director of the China-Arab Research Institute at Ningxia University.

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“At present, it appears that the United States has made more concessions, largely because Washington is more desperate to disentangle itself from the war,” Niu said.

According to an outline of the agreement released by the US on Wednesday, the deal covers some of the issues most critical to Iran.

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