Live ingestion is paused. We’re migrating our backend to a new database. The archive is up to date through Jun 18, 2026 (13 daysago). Fresh events will resume once the migration finishes — historical analysis is fully available.
61,156 documented events · latest Jun 18, 2026 — chronological archive with full summaries and multi-source verification.
- Carnival shares are powering higher. Why is CCL stock surging? U.S., Iran Strike Deal To End Hostilities, Reopen Strait After more than three months of conflict and a series of stalled diplomatic efforts, the United States and Iran signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding aimed at ending hostilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The deal allows Iranian crude exports to resume immediately, although the most sensitive issue, Iran's nuclear program, will be addressed in a separate 60-day negotiation window. Under the agreement, the United States will begin lifting its naval blockade at once and fully remove it within 30 days. Iran agreed to permit commercial vessels to pass safely at no cost for 60 days, with shipping lanes expected to return to normal once mine clearing operations are completed. Iranian media reported that 11 Iranian vessels crossed the blockade shortly after the memorandum was signed. Oil Prices Continue To Ease West Texas Intermediate slipped about 1.3% to roughly $75 per barrel on Thursday, while Brent traded near $78.66. Crude prices are now down close to 38% from the April peak. The national average for regular gasoline fell to about $3.99 per gallon, dropping below $4 for the first time since late March according to AAA. The International Energy Agency has warned that a supply surplus could develop heading into 2027. Lower fuel costs directly benefit cruise operators because fuel is one of their largest operating expenses. Softer energy prices improve margin expectations for companies like Carnival and also help support consumer travel demand by boosting discretionary spending power. Both sides have up to 60 days, with the option to extend by mutual consent, to finalize the deal. President Donald Trump stated that if Iran does not meet its commitments, the United States will resume military action. Critical Levels To Watch For CCL Stock Carnival has shifted back into a healthier intermediate trend. The stock trades 11.6% above the 20-day simple moving average, 14.3% above the 50-day simple moving average and 9.2% above the 200-day simple moving average. When price sits above all three levels, it usually signals that buyers have regained control of the trend even if volatility increases around major news events. The moving average structure is not fully aligned yet. The 20-day average is above the 50-day average, which supports near term strength, but the 50-day average remains below the 200-day average following the death cross that formed in March. This type of split often means the stock can trend higher in the short run, while longer-term traders wait for more confirmation before treating the move as durable. Momentum indicators lean supportive. MACD is above its signal line and the histogram is positive, which shows that buying pressure is improving compared with the prior pullback. When MACD holds above the signal line, it often reflects a shift where sellers lose influence and buyers begin to push the trend forward. The next test on the upside is whether Carnival can make another run toward the upper boundary of its 52 week range. The 52 week high sits at $34.03, and the stock last made a swing high in April. On the downside, traders will watch the May swing low as the key level that needs to hold if the stock pulls back after earnings. - Key Resistance: $33.00 A round number just below the $34.03 high where sellers have stepped in before. - Key Support: $25.50 A prior demand zone that aligns with the earlier breakdown area and sits well below current price. CCL Shares Are Climbing CCL Price Action: Carnival shares were up 3.58% at $30.99 at the time of publication on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro. Image: Alison L.Ward/Shutterstock © 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.
BEIRUT | JERUSALEM | QLAILIEH: Three Saudi-flagged supertankers carrying 6 million barrels of crude sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, hours after US President Donald Trump signed a deal with Iran to end the war that has disrupted global energy supplies. But in Lebanon, where more than a million people are displaced by the fighting, Israeli forces launched fresh airstrikes on Thursday morning, raising doubt about how far Trump will go to force his wartime allies to halt an offensive he has now pledged to end. Later in the day, vice president JD Vance said Thursday that the US Navy has allowed more than a dozen ships through to Iranian ports, lifting a blockade as part of an agreement to end the war. Vance made the announcement at a White House press briefing, where he said more oil is now flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. The Republican VP said more than 12.5 million barrels went through the shipping channel on Wednesday night. "So, we're also honouring our end of the early part of the agreement on the military side," Vance said, citing it as an immediate benefit of the deal as he downplayed criticism that the agreement tilts in favor of Iran. Iran's Khamenei says he approved US MoU despite reservations; says future talks will be face-to-face And in an extraordinary rebuke, he warned US critics in Israel against "attacking the only powerful ally" it has left. He lashed out at members of the Israeli government, warning them that "Donald J Trump is the only head of state in the world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time." Vance said he plans to travel to Switzerland for talks on the Iran deal but he doesn't know when that will happen. He had been expected to lead talks on implementing the agreement with Iran aimed at diluting its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and restarting oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Benchmark Brent crude futures prices fell by another 2% to below $78 a barrel, lowest since the shooting began. What sanctions are there on Iran and will they be lifted? The US-Iranian MoU starts the clock on a 60-day negotiation period to reach a final settlement, which Trump launched in February alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. LEBANON a part of pact But Israel, which launched an invasion in March and has since seized a large swathe of southern Lebanon in its pursuit of Hezbollah militants who opened fire across the border, was excluded from the negotiations. Iran has said that any peace deal must also cover Lebanon. The MoU calls for the "permanent termination" of the war in Lebanon and for its "territorial integrity and sovereignty" to be ensured. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) But in Lebanon, where more than a million people are displaced by the fighting, Israeli forces launched fresh airstrikes on Thursday morning, raising doubt about how far Trump will go to force his wartime allies to halt an offensive he has now pledged to end. Later in the day, vice president JD Vance said Thursday that the US Navy has allowed more than a dozen ships through to Iranian ports, lifting a blockade as part of an agreement to end the war. Vance made the announcement at a White House press briefing, where he said more oil is now flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. The Republican VP said more than 12.5 million barrels went through the shipping channel on Wednesday night. "So, we're also honouring our end of the early part of the agreement on the military side," Vance said, citing it as an immediate benefit of the deal as he downplayed criticism that the agreement tilts in favor of Iran. Iran's Khamenei says he approved US MoU despite reservations; says future talks will be face-to-face And in an extraordinary rebuke, he warned US critics in Israel against "attacking the only powerful ally" it has left. He lashed out at members of the Israeli government, warning them that "Donald J Trump is the only head of state in the world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time." Vance said he plans to travel to Switzerland for talks on the Iran deal but he doesn't know when that will happen. He had been expected to lead talks on implementing the agreement with Iran aimed at diluting its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and restarting oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Benchmark Brent crude futures prices fell by another 2% to below $78 a barrel, lowest since the shooting began. What sanctions are there on Iran and will they be lifted? The US-Iranian MoU starts the clock on a 60-day negotiation period to reach a final settlement, which Trump launched in February alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. LEBANON a part of pact But Israel, which launched an invasion in March and has since seized a large swathe of southern Lebanon in its pursuit of Hezbollah militants who opened fire across the border, was excluded from the negotiations. Iran has said that any peace deal must also cover Lebanon. The MoU calls for the "permanent termination" of the war in Lebanon and for its "territorial integrity and sovereignty" to be ensured. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
WASHINGTON — Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtab Khamenei endorsed direct negotiations with the U.S. late Thursday in a statement read by state media. “It is obvious that the face-to-face negotiations that will be held in the future will not mean accepting the enemy’s opinion,” he said. It was Khamenei’s first reaction to the deal recently reached between Iran and the U.S. to end hostilities. The supreme leader has not been seen in public since he was wounded in a strike at the start of the war. Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the U.S. Navy has allowed more than a dozen ships through to Iranian ports, lifting a blockade as part of an agreement to end the war. Vance made the announcement at a White House press briefing, where he said more oil is now flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. The Republican vice president said more than 12.5 million barrels went through the shipping channel Wednesday night. “So we’re also honoring our end of the early part of the agreement on the military side,” Vance said, citing it as an immediate benefit of the deal as he downplayed criticism that the agreement tilts in favor of Iran. And in an extraordinary rebuke, he warned U.S. critics in Israel against “attacking the only powerful ally” it has left. He lashed out at members of the Israeli government, warning them that “Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time.” Vance said he plans to travel to Switzerland for talks on the Iran deal but he doesn’t know when that will happen. He had been expected to lead talks on implementing the agreement with Iran aimed at diluting its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and restarting oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. On Tuesday, two oil tankers left Iran and crossed the U.S. military blockade without being stopped. A merchant shipping tracking website said the ships were carrying a combined total of 3.8 million barrels of Iranian crude oil. Meanwhile, Iranian state media said that shipping has “normalized” at Iran’s southern ports but added that the Strait of Hormuz remains supervised and under the control of the Iranian military and transiting through the vital waterway still requires coordination. Major shipowners have begun moving vessels through the Strait of Hormuz since the agreement was signed, according to maritime data company Lloyd’s List Intelligence — though they did not give data on how many ships have passed through the strait as of Thursday. In a media briefing, Richard Meade, editor in chief of Lloyd’s List, said for the first time in 110 days, ships owned by major companies are transiting the strait after effectively being marooned there since February. Tankers controlled by major ship owners Grimaldi Group, Cosco, Knutsen and NYK have passed through the strait. And two Iran-flagged, National Iranian Tanker Company-owned, sanctioned crude oil tankers have entered the strait, according to Lloyd’s List. Phillip Belcher, marine director of Intertanko, a trade group for global independent tanker owners, said the main central route of the Strait of Hormuz is still closed and has an estimated 80 mines that need to be cleared. But ships have been passing through the smaller Northern route, which goes through Iranian waters, and the Southern route, which goes through Omani waters. The agreement calls for a permanent end to hostilities and starts a 60-day negotiating clock to reach a final deal on the future of Iran’s nuclear program, though Trump left the door open to resume attacks. It appears to offer Iran several benefits up front while extracting little in return. It states that Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which is believed to be buried under rubble, must at minimum be diluted under international supervision. It also states that Iran shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons — a commitment it has made previously. But beyond stating that the U.S. and Iran will negotiate over Iran’s nuclear program, other commitments still need to be worked out. Much of the agreement would restore the status quo before the war, including ending hostilities, restarting talks between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial passage for the world’s oil and natural gas whose closure created a historic energy crisis.
[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.] U.S. Ends Hormuz Blockade as Negotiations Restart Administration Downplays Concerns About Tolls Key Takeaways: - The United States and Iran began a 60-day interim peace agreement, reopening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping after lifting a U.S. blockade and extending a ceasefire. - The deal eased oil market tensions, with prices falling from recent highs, but critics warn it could grant Iran sanctions relief and access to significant funds. - Negotiators now aim to finalize a broader agreement on Iran’s nuclear program within 60 days, though officials and experts say the timeline may be extended. The U.S.-Iran interim peace deal took effect and shipping started returning to the Strait of Hormuz as the U.S. declared an end to its blockade and a complex negotiating period over Tehran’s nuclear program began in earnest. Vice President JD Vance told reporters at the White House that the 60-day clock for working out the contentious details in the so-called memorandum of understanding signed late June 17 had starting ticking. He downplayed concerns Iran could eventually impose tolls on traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a move that would turn the crucial transport choke point — widely considered international waters — into a money maker for Tehran. “Well, first of all, we believe international waterways should be free of tolls,” he said, noting that the countries in the region “together will figure out a proper security framework for the straits in the future.” If the strait is not open, “there’s not going to be a final deal.” Earlier June 18, Trump posted on Truth Social that “oil is flowing,” hours after signing a memorandum of agreement to extend a ceasefire and begin negotiations to end the conflict he started alongside Israel at the end of February. Iran’s closure of the strait spiked energy prices, raised the risk of a global economic crisis, and led to chaos across the Middle East. U.S. Central Command announced June 18 that it had lifted the blockade on traffic to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas. “American forces are not impeding the transit of vessels to or from Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman,” the command said in a social media post. “All U.S. military blockade enforcement efforts have ceased. Our great naval ships will remain in the general area to make sure that all aspects of the agreement are adhered to, obeyed and in full force and effect.” Ships carrying stranded oil began making their way out of the Strait of Hormuz on June 18, while Kuwait said it will start ramping up production, as the peace deal sparked a flurry of activity in the region. Vessels carrying nearly 10 million barrels of oil have either appeared outside the strait or are sailing through, including the first Saudi-owned tankers since the war began more than three months ago. Iran said commercial vessel traffic at southern ports had returned to normal since Monday, according to the semi-official Iranian Students’ News Agency. Today, U.S. forces lifted the blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas, in accordance with the President's direction. American forces are not impeding the transit of vessels to or from Iranian ports. All U.S. military blockade… — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 18, 2026 Many shipping and oil executives had previously said they need more clarity, including on whether the strait is clear of mines and whether they need to seek any kind of permission from Iran before sailing through. Iran hawks, including some Republican allies of Trump, say the deal concedes far too much to the Islamic Republic in terms of sanctions relief and potentially unfreezing tens of billions of dollars of funds. Some of have said it is no better than the Obama administration’s 2015 nuclear deal that Trump had called the “worst deal ever.” “Specifically, the $300 billion fund for the reconstruction and economic development of Iran – though not funded by U.S. taxpayers – would make Iran’s payoff under President Obama’s 2015 deal look like a pittance by comparison,” Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement. “The Iranian regime has not renounced its ultimate goal — ‘Death to America, Death to Israel.’ The regime will invest every penny it receives to further that aim,” he said. Asked about reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Cabinet are upset about the deal, Vance suggested officials consider that the U.S. is Israel’s strongest friend. Vance “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 said. “The problem for Israel is not Donald J. Trump, and anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the president of the United States needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in.” According to a copy of the memorandum of understanding published by Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on X on June 18, Iran will arrange passage of commercial ships through the strait with “no charge for 60 days only” and traffic is to be reinstated “within 30 days.” Iran will hold talks with Oman to define the future administration and maritime services of the Strait of Hormuz, which will be in line with “applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states” of the Persian Gulf, according to the agreement. It was unclear if Vance would still meet Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s lead negotiator, in Switzerland on June 19 for negotiations to permanently end the war as planned. He said the U.S. had met its primary objectives for the conflict and suggested it could only benefit from the deal as agreed. “Iran is weakened, their nuclear program destroyed, their economy in desperate straits, and if they change their behavior, big things are going to happen for Iran and for the world,” he said. “If they don’t, no skin off our backs — either way, we win. And that’s the way the president has set up this deal and this negotiation.” Oil fell further on June 18 , with Brent dropping 2.5% to $77.55 a barrel as of 12:38 p.m. in New York. It’s down from close to $95 since Trump said late last week that a deal was imminent. Still, oil remains roughly 30% higher for the year, with energy traders saying it will take months, if not longer, for volumes of oil and liquefied natural gas going through Hormuz to return to normal. During the 60-day negotiation, the sides will try to agree on restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program and how to dilute or destroy its stocks of highly enriched uranium. Many nuclear experts say 60 days is too short to work out something so complex and technical. The agreement does say the time frame can be extended. The 2015 nuclear deal, which Trump derided and abandoned during his first term, took about two years to finalize. Israel and the U.S. said the conflict was necessary to prevent Iran acquiring atomic weapons. The Islamic Republic has always denied wanting to do that, though it has raised the suspicions of many governments by enriching uranium far beyond the levels needed for nuclear power plants. Eaton's Jason Dinardo and Leah Bogle address common misconceptions about automated manual transmissions and examine what today's drivetrain service environment requires. Tune in above or by going to RoadSigns.ttnews.com. While Iran’s economy has been battered by the war and some of its most senior leaders killed, its ruling regime remains entrenched. The Iranian military proved able to inflict plenty of damage on the US and allies such as the United Arab Emirates by firing thousands of drones and missiles across the region. U.S. gasoline prices dipped below $4 a gallon for the first time since March after the memorandum was agreed. Iran will be allowed to restart oil exports immediately under the memorandum, with the U.S. granting sanctions waivers. Tehran will also potentially benefit from a $300 billion rehabilitation fund that the U.S. and regional allies are meant to set up. The U.S. has said it won’t provide any money but that other countries are free to. The document says the U.S. could unfreeze Iranian funds held in various countries, albeit only if Tehran meets certain criteria. Written byJennifer A. Dlouhy, Omar Tamo and Eltaf Najafizada
Iran and the United States are about to sign a peace deal that will reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil. Oil prices reacted quickly to the announcement of the tentative deal, dropping from highs that had pushed gasoline prices toward record levels in North America. The global supply chain, however, will take the better part of a year to recover, and the relief at the pumps may prove more gradual than the relief in oil markets. The strait’s closure began on Feb. 28 after the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran. Tehran responded by effectively shutting the strait to commercial traffic, attacking ships and laying sea mines. Traffic through the passage fell from about 100 vessels per day to roughly six at the height of the blockade, and more than 1,500 vessels were left waiting to pass through at one point. That backlog has caused a months-long global energy crisis. Supply chains operate on a different timeline than politics. German shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd estimates it will take their firm at least six weeks to regain a fully normal network, assuming vessels can leave the Persian Gulf fairly soon after reopening. But that estimate may be too optimistic, since several of the prerequisites for normal traffic still aren’t in place and different accounts put different timelines on how long it will take for the backlog to clear and traffic to return to pre-conflict levels. Insurance and mines slow the restart The Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed by insurance companies before it was declared closed by the Iranian navy. War-risk insurance premiums surged from 0.25 per cent of vessel value before the conflict to between three and eight per cent, which could translate to up to US$8 million for a single tanker transit in insurance costs alone. Mines cannot be cleared overnight, and mine clearance is itself a prerequisite for insurers to lower premiums again. That alone could take up to six months, meaning the financial cost of transiting the strait may stay elevated. Once vessels do return, the congestion won’t disappear — it will move to other trans-shipment ports. The traffic released from the strait will need berths, cranes, labour and feeder connections at ports such like Jebel Ali, Colombo, Singapore and Tanjung Pelepas, where operations are already running at elevated capacity after absorbing diverted traffic during the closure. The sudden flood of new traffic at these ports will create further delays across the global container supply chain. Think of an accident on the highway: once it’s cleared, the traffic stacked up behind it disperses, but that dispersal itself can create new slowdowns at the next on-ramp or exit. In this scenario, the strait was the accident, and the ports are the on-ramps. No analyst has yet modelled the clearing of this secondary congestion, but drawing on port throughput data and the volume of traffic released from the strait, a reasonable estimate suggests a return to normal at global transshipment ports won’t be achieved until three to four months from now. Diverted routes won’t simply snap back The disruption also affected shipping routes themselves. Within hours of the U.S.-Israeli strikes in February, many vessels scheduled for Suez Canal routing were diverted around the Cape of Good Hope. By early March, all four of the world’s largest container carriers — Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd — had suspended Hormuz transit. De-escalation doesn’t mean these diverted shipments will simply snap back to the strait. Many shipping firms have already restructured schedules, contracts, vessel positioning and fuel procurement for the rest of 2026 around the Cape of Good Hope route. Unwinding those arrangements takes time. History suggests why changing routes is not an easy fix. After the last Houthi attack on shipping in September 2025 in the Bab el-Mandeb, a highly strategic maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, a formal ceasefire was declared on Nov. 11. Yet Suez Canal traffic remained 60 per cent below pre-crisis levels 100 days after that final attack. The same pattern could play out here. A container imbalance adds to the strain Under normal conditions, container positioning runs on a tightly managed cycle: loaded containers move one way, and empty ones move back on a schedule that keeps equipment where it’s needed. The blockade broke this cycle, leaving loaded containers trapped inside the Persian Gulf, and empty containers at trans-shipment hubs like Colombo and European terminals. The cape route made it worse, adding still more empties in Europe. That imbalance means Asia is scrambling to find empty containers to ship cargo, while European ports are drowning in empties awaiting shipments from Asia. The containers trapped inside the Persian Gulf are only half of the story: an estimated two million shipping containers have been disrupted across the global network because of the blockade. The strait crisis didn’t land on a perfectly balanced system to begin with, so meaningful improvements are achievable three to five months from reopening, while a return to pre-crisis balance levels may take nine to 12 months. What comes next Policymakers and logistics leaders shouldn’t assume the backlog will clear itself on a political timeline. Insurance normalization lags behind the realities on the ground by months. Shipments that diverted to the Cape of Good Hope need to be redirected back to the Suez Canal-Red Sea route, a process the Bab el-Mandeb experience suggests will be slow and partial. Container imbalances need to be resolved and secondary congestion at trans-shipment hubs needs to clear. The strait may be open, but for a global supply chain already strained by the COVID-19 pandemic and now by months of blockade, the work of recovery has only just begun. Anyone budgeting around an assumption that prices will normalize as soon as headlines about the ceasefire fade should expect a longer adjustment, measured in months rather than weeks.
Vice President JD Vance on Thursday defended the memorandum of understanding signed by President Donald Trump and Iran, arguing the agreement benefits the United States whether Tehran ultimately complies with its terms or not. "Their nuclear program has been completely destroyed," Trump said during a White House briefing. "Their capacity for enrichment facilities ... those facilities are still destroyed. Their conventional military is still destroyed. Their capacity to threaten their neighbors is largely gone." Trump signed the deal in France on Wednesday, and Vance said it was already producing results, pointing to lower oil prices and increased shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. RELATED STORY | Trump and Iran sign ceasefire agreement, including $300B for Iran's reconstruction Under the agreement, the United States lifted its blockade on Iranian ports, allowing Iran to resume oil exports. Iran could eventually receive up to $300 billion in reconstruction and economic development funding, though Vance said those benefits would be contingent on Tehran following through on commitments related to its nuclear program and broader regional behavior. "You really have a win-win situation for the United States of America," he said. "If the Iranians don't change their behavior, their military and their nuclear program is still destroyed. If they do change their behavior, then they are going to have a transformative relationship with the Middle East." The vice president also contrasted the agreement with the 2015 Obama-era nuclear deal, which critics have said was a stronger deal. Vance believes the new framework takes a tougher approach. "The Obama nuclear deal allowed enrichment. Ours will not," Vance said. Preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was one of the primary reasons the United States joined Israel in military operations against Iran on Feb. 28. A ceasefire remains in place and has been extended for 60 days under the new agreement.
Vice President JD Vance on Thursday defended the memorandum of understanding signed by President Donald Trump and Iran, arguing the agreement benefits the United States whether Tehran ultimately complies with its terms or not. "Their nuclear program has been completely destroyed," Trump said during a White House briefing. "Their capacity for enrichment facilities ... those facilities are still destroyed. Their conventional military is still destroyed. Their capacity to threaten their neighbors is largely gone." Trump signed the deal in France on Wednesday, and Vance said it was already producing results, pointing to lower oil prices and increased shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. RELATED STORY | Trump and Iran sign ceasefire agreement, including $300B for Iran's reconstruction Under the agreement, the United States lifted its blockade on Iranian ports, allowing Iran to resume oil exports. Iran could eventually receive up to $300 billion in reconstruction and economic development funding, though Vance said those benefits would be contingent on Tehran following through on commitments related to its nuclear program and broader regional behavior. "You really have a win-win situation for the United States of America," he said. "If the Iranians don't change their behavior, their military and their nuclear program is still destroyed. If they do change their behavior, then they are going to have a transformative relationship with the Middle East." The vice president also contrasted the agreement with the 2015 Obama-era nuclear deal, which critics have said was a stronger deal. Vance believes the new framework takes a tougher approach. "The Obama nuclear deal allowed enrichment. Ours will not," Vance said. Preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was one of the primary reasons the United States joined Israel in military operations against Iran on Feb. 28. A ceasefire remains in place and has been extended for 60 days under the new agreement.
Vice President JD Vance on Thursday defended the memorandum of understanding signed by President Donald Trump and Iran, arguing the agreement benefits the United States whether Tehran ultimately complies with its terms or not. "Their nuclear program has been completely destroyed," Trump said during a White House briefing. "Their capacity for enrichment facilities ... those facilities are still destroyed. Their conventional military is still destroyed. Their capacity to threaten their neighbors is largely gone." Trump signed the deal in France on Wednesday, and Vance said it was already producing results, pointing to lower oil prices and increased shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. RELATED STORY | Trump and Iran sign ceasefire agreement, including $300B for Iran's reconstruction Under the agreement, the United States lifted its blockade on Iranian ports, allowing Iran to resume oil exports. Iran could eventually receive up to $300 billion in reconstruction and economic development funding, though Vance said those benefits would be contingent on Tehran following through on commitments related to its nuclear program and broader regional behavior. "You really have a win-win situation for the United States of America," he said. "If the Iranians don't change their behavior, their military and their nuclear program is still destroyed. If they do change their behavior, then they are going to have a transformative relationship with the Middle East." The vice president also contrasted the agreement with the 2015 Obama-era nuclear deal, which critics have said was a stronger deal. Vance believes the new framework takes a tougher approach. "The Obama nuclear deal allowed enrichment. Ours will not," Vance said. Preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was one of the primary reasons the United States joined Israel in military operations against Iran on Feb. 28. A ceasefire remains in place and has been extended for 60 days under the new agreement.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the U.S. Navy has allowed more than a dozen ships through to Iranian ports, lifting a blockade as part of an agreement to end the war. Vance made the announcement at a White House press briefing, where he said more oil is now flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. The Republican vice president said more than 12.5 million barrels went through the shipping channel Wednesday night. “So we’re also honoring our end of the early part of the agreement on the military side,” Vance said, citing it as an immediate benefit of the deal as he downplayed criticism that the agreement tilts in favor of Iran. And in an extraordinary rebuke, he warned U.S. critics in Israel against “attacking the only powerful ally” it has left. He lashed out at members of the Israeli government, warning them that “Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time.” Vance said he plans to travel to Switzerland for talks on the Iran deal but he doesn’t know when that will happen. He had been expected to lead talks on implementing the agreement with Iran aimed at diluting its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and restarting oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. On Tuesday, two oil tankers left Iran and crossed the U.S. military blockade without being stopped. A merchant shipping tracking website said the ships were carrying a combined total of 3.8 million barrels of Iranian crude oil. Get daily National news Meanwhile, Iranian state media said that shipping has “normalized” at Iran’s southern ports but added that the Strait of Hormuz remains supervised and under the control of the Iranian military and transiting through the vital waterway still requires coordination. Major shipowners have begun moving vessels through the Strait of Hormuz since the agreement was signed, according to maritime data company Lloyd’s List Intelligence — though they did not give data on how many ships have passed through the strait as of Thursday. In a media briefing, Richard Meade, editor in chief of Lloyd’s List, said for the first time in 110 days, ships owned by major companies are transiting the strait after effectively being marooned there since February. Tankers controlled by major ship owners Grimaldi Group, Cosco, Knutsen and NYK have passed through the strait. And two Iran-flagged, National Iranian Tanker Company-owned, sanctioned crude oil tankers have entered the strait, according to Lloyd’s List. Phillip Belcher, marine director of Intertanko, a trade group for global independent tanker owners, said the main central route of the Strait of Hormuz is still closed and has an estimated 80 mines that need to be cleared. But ships have been passing through the smaller Northern route, which goes through Iranian waters, and the Southern route, which goes through Omani waters. The agreement calls for a permanent end to hostilities and starts a 60-day negotiating clock to reach a final deal on the future of Iran’s nuclear program, though Trump left the door open to resume attacks. It appears to offer Iran several benefits up front while extracting little in return. It states that Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which is believed to be buried under rubble, must at minimum be diluted under international supervision. It also states that Iran shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons — a commitment it has made previously. But beyond stating that the U.S. and Iran will negotiate over Iran’s nuclear program, other commitments still need to be worked out. Much of the agreement would restore the status quo before the war, including ending hostilities, restarting talks between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial passage for the world’s oil and natural gas whose closure created a historic energy crisis.
Mystery surrounds JD Vance's dash to Switzerland as world holds breath for Iranians to confirm peace deal - SPECIAL OFFER: Sign up to our weekly US politics newsletter and get three FREE months of DailyMail+ HERE - See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source With roughly 24 hours to go before a memorandum of understanding with Iran is scheduled to be signed in Switzerland, Vice President JD Vance threw doubt on whether the historic ceremony will occur. The MOU outlines an agreement between the US and Iran to begin ceasing hostilities and begin negotiating an end to the three and a half month long war. The agreement, which was signed by Donald Trump at the French palace Versailles sometime around Wednesday evening, immediately lifts sanctions on Iran's oil exports. It also calls for the free passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz and the ending of the US Naval blockade of the area. Trump has said that Vice President JD Vance will oversee the signing ceremony in Lucerne, Switzerland, scheduled for Friday, noting this week 'This way, if it works out, I'm going to take the credit. If it doesn't work out, I'm blaming JD.' Pressed on whether the trip will still occur on Thursday, Vance told reporters that he 'suspects' he will still go, casting doubt on whether he actually will. 'I plan to go to Switzerland ... we think these technical negotiation areas start sometime this weekend,' Vance said. 'That's still the plan, but that could change because it's not an easy country, Iran, to get out of, and so we're trying to figure out exactly when that's going to happen.' Vice President JD Vance cast doubt on the scheduled signing ceremony for the MOU between Iran and the US, set for Friday in Switzerland Vance explains that he 'suspects' that the trip is still on, noting how Iran is 'not an easy country' 'I suspect this weekend, but I'm not sure,' he added. 'We're trying to figure that out as we speak, but again, I suspect it will happen this weekend.' There have been mixed signals from the administration over when the MOU was signed and what has been agreed to. Senior administration officials told reporters on Monday that Trump, Vance and Iran's Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf signed a digital version of the MOU on Sunday. Then an Axios report indicated the MOU had actually not been signed. The senior officials also said Monday the text of the MOU would be published within 48 hours, but a copy of the agreement has not been released. Instead, those senior officials relayed the contents of the MOU to reporters over a phone call. Then, after signalling publicly that the MOU would be signed in a Friday ceremony with Vance in Switzerland, the administration said that Trump officially signed the MOU at Versailles sometime on Wednesday evening. Now, Vance says the ceremony is suspected sometime this weekend, indicating the Friday event is up in the air. 'We are told that the Iranians are taking their sweet time to respond, proving further that they are the ones who have the leverage,' a source familiar with the Iran talks explained to the Daily Mail. Trump said that a signing ceremony was to take place with Vance on Friday, joking that 'This way, if it works out, I'm going to take the credit. If it doesn't work out, I'm blaming JD' A reporter pressed Trump, saying one of the goals of Epic Fury was to destroy Iran's ballistic missiles An employee at the Burgenstock Hotel in Lucerne, where the signing is supposed to happen, told the Daily Mail that the rooms booked for the event have not been canceled. Vance also pushed back on reports indicating that Iran will get money as part of the MOU. The MOU includes sanction relief for Iran if it complies with the deal, giving it access to frozen funds and a proposed $300 billion reconstruction plan. 'The United States isn’t giving up a cent of money to Iran,' Vance said. 'What President Trump and his talented national security team – including both Vice President Vance and Secretary Rubio – achieved on the battlefield and at the negotiating table is nothing short of remarkable and will strengthen American security for years to come,' White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said in a statement. 'Everyone is fully behind President Trump’s efforts to ensure Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon.' Though some Republicans on Capitol Hill are skeptical of the deal and are demanding to know more. Trump and Vance have said that Iran will be able to retain some ballistic missile capabilities as a part of the MOU The White House has said repeatedly that one of the stated objectives of the war was to obliterate Iran's ballistic missile capabilities 'I don’t wanna see JCPOA 2.0,' GOP Iowa Senator Joni Ernst said of the MOU, referring to ex-President Barak Obama's deal with Iran that Trump has criticized. GOP skeptics are concerned about the $300 billion reconstruction fund and whether US taxpayer funds will go into it - which the administration claims won't happen. There's also questions about why the administration is fine with Iran retaining its ballistic missile capabilities after the White House repeatedly stressed that one of the goals of the war was to obliterate the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile program. Vance and the President have said that it is crucial for Iran to retain an ability to defend itself while answering questions about why the country is being allowed to retain its missiles. 'The Iranians don't give up the right of self defense in their country, but we do expect that as part of the final deal they are not going to be able to build the kind of missiles that can broadly threaten the entire world,' Vance said. The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
As part of an initial deal between the United States and Iran to end the conflict, Vice President JD Vance declared that the US Navy had eased the naval blockade by allowing over a dozen ships to reach Iranian ports. At a White House press conference on Thursday, Vance announced that more oil is now passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Over 12.5 million barrels passed through the maritime canal on Wednesday night, according to the Republican vice president, as reported by the Associated Press. Vance stated, "So we're also honouring our end of the early part of the agreement on the military side." ALSO READ: China's Bad Consumer Debt At $300 Billion Signals Danger To Economy Vance dismissed concerns that the accord favours Iran, citing it as an immediate advantage of the agreement. Two oil tankers that crossed Iran on Tuesday managed to get past the military blockade imposed by the United States. The ships were transporting a total of 3.8 million barrels of Iranian crude oil, according to a merchant shipping tracking website. According to the accord, Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile—which is said to be hidden beneath debris—must at the very least be diluted under international monitoring. Additionally, it reiterates Iran's earlier pledge to refrain from acquiring or developing nuclear weapons. However, there are still issues that need to be resolved in addition to the declaration that the United States and Iran will engage in negotiations on Iran's nuclear program This development coincides with the signing of the first agreement between the United States and Iran that aims to ensure the permanent, toll-free reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, relaxing severe economic sanctions on Tehran, and an end to the ongoing hostilities. ALSO READ: Removing Trade Roadblocks, Cutting Cargo Dwell Times Top Priority In FY26, Says CBIC Official Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
US allows more than a dozen ships through to Iranian ports, lifting blockade under deal, Vance says And in an extraordinary rebuke, the Republican vice president warned U.S. critics in Israel against “attacking the only powerful ally” it has left. June 18, 2026 - 9:34 am WASHINGTON — Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the U.S. Navy has allowed more than a dozen ships through to Iranian ports, lifting a blockade as part of an agreement to end the war. Vance made the announcement at a White House press briefing, where he said more oil is now flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. The Republican vice president said more than 12.5 million barrels went through the shipping channel Wednesday night. “So we’re also honoring our end of the early part of the agreement on the military side,” Vance said, citing it as an immediate benefit of the deal as he downplayed criticism that the agreement tilts in favor of Iran. And in an extraordinary rebuke, he warned U.S. critics in Israel against “attacking the only powerful ally” it has left. He lashed out at members of the Israeli government, warning them that “Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time.” Vance said he plans to travel to Switzerland for talks on the Iran deal but he doesn’t know when that will happen. He had been expected to lead talks on implementing the agreement with Iran aimed at diluting its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and restarting oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. On Tuesday, two oil tankers left Iran and crossed the U.S. military blockade without being stopped. A merchant shipping tracking website said the ships were carrying a combined total of 3.8 million barrels of Iranian crude oil. Meanwhile, Iranian state media said that shipping has “normalized” at Iran’s southern ports but added that the Strait of Hormuz remains supervised and under the control of the Iranian military and transiting through the vital waterway still requires coordination. Major shipowners have begun moving vessels through the Strait of Hormuz since the agreement was signed, according to maritime data company Lloyd’s List Intelligence — though they did not give data on how many ships have passed through the strait as of Thursday. In a media briefing, Richard Meade, editor in chief of Lloyd’s List, said for the first time in 110 days, ships owned by major companies are transiting the strait after effectively being marooned there since February. Tankers controlled by major ship owners Grimaldi Group, Cosco, Knutsen and NYK have passed through the strait. And two Iran-flagged, National Iranian Tanker Company-owned, sanctioned crude oil tankers have entered the strait, according to Lloyd’s List. Phillip Belcher, marine director of Intertanko, a trade group for global independent tanker owners, said the main central route of the Strait of Hormuz is still closed and has an estimated 80 mines that need to be cleared. But ships have been passing through the smaller Northern route, which goes through Iranian waters, and the Southern route, which goes through Omani waters. The agreement calls for a permanent end to hostilities and starts a 60-day negotiating clock to reach a final deal on the future of Iran’s nuclear program, though Trump left the door open to resume attacks. It appears to offer Iran several benefits up front while extracting little in return. It states that Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which is believed to be buried under rubble, must at minimum be diluted under international supervision. It also states that Iran shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons — a commitment it has made previously. But beyond stating that the U.S. and Iran will negotiate over Iran’s nuclear program, other commitments still need to be worked out. Much of the agreement would restore the status quo before the war, including ending hostilities, restarting talks between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial passage for the world’s oil and natural gas whose closure created a historic energy crisis.
WASHINGTON, June 18. /TASS/. The United States has in fact removed the blockade of Iran's seaports, and Tehran now allows merchant ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, US Vice President JD Vance said commenting on Thursday's signing of a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran aimed at ending the conflict. "The Iranians, for the second night in a row, did not shoot at any ships on the military side. CENTCOM has allowed a dozen ships to go through our naval blockade, and so we're also honoring our end of the early part of the agreement," he told a news conference. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM)'s area of operational responsibility is primarily the Middle East. According to Vance, 12.5 million barrels of oil have already been transported through the Strait of Hormuz after the memorandum was signed.
60-day ceasefire begins as 12 million barrels of oil flow through Strait of Hormuz - Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the U.S. Navy has allowed more than a dozen ships to pass through to Iranian ports, lifting a blockade as part of the agreement to end the war. - Vance said over 12.5 million barrels of oil transited the shipping channel Wednesday night, marking the highest volume recorded since the conflict began in late February. - He also stated that the 60-day ceasefire period in which the US and Iran will lock into negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme and a long-term peace deal started today. - By the end of the negotiations, he says, the US expects that Iran won’t have missiles that can threaten the entire world. He did not state specifically which arm the US expects Tehran to give up. - He added that Tehran would need to receive a lot of money in order to rebuild its nuclear programme and any flareups during the 60-day period will need to be managed via diplomacy, he says.
The US Navy has allowed more than a dozen ships through to Iranian ports, lifting a blockade as part of an agreement to end the war. Vice President JD Vance made the announcement on Thursday at a White House press briefing, where he said more oil is now flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. The Republican said more than 12.5 million barrels went through the shipping channel on Wednesday night. “So we’re also honouring our end of the early part of the agreement on the military side,” Mr Vance said. He cited it as an immediate benefit of the deal as he downplayed criticism that the agreement tilts in favour of Iran. On Tuesday, two oil tankers left Iran and crossed the US military blockade without being stopped. A merchant shipping tracking website said the ships were carrying a combined total of 3.8 million barrels of Iranian crude oil. Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier said leaders of both the US and Iran had signed the agreement and endorsed him as a mediator. He said in a post on X that the deal “shall enter into force with immediate effect and 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”. https://x.com/CMShehbaz/status/2067403784419254306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Mr Sharif said that Pakistan and co-mediator Qatar will still host an official signing ceremony on Friday in Switzerland. His post came shortly after President Donald Trump said he had signed the agreement during a dinner at the Palace of Versailles. The agreement to end the war calls for Tehran to dilute its stockpile of highly-enriched uranium and would waive sanctions on the country, immediately allowing Iran to sell its oil freely in a major concession from Washington, according to language released by both countries on Wednesday. The agreement would also open the Strait of Hormuz toll-free for two months and affirm a commitment to Lebanon’s territorial integrity in the face of Israel’s invasion against the Hezbollah militant group. US officials dictated draft language to journalists after days of secrecy, speaking on condition of anonymity. Iranian state TV later released text that largely tracked what the US put out. Though officials had said Mr Trump and vice president JD Vance had digitally signed the agreement on Sunday and that a ceremonial signing would be held Friday in Switzerland, a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity to share details about the agreement said Mr Trump signed the deal while at Versailles on Wednesday. The US official said Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian also signed it on Wednesday. “It’s signed,” Mr Trump said as he left Versailles, the historic palace where he dined with French President Emmanuel Macron following a trip to the G7 summit in France. Text of the agreement has not been formally released. The draft read by US officials includes language that Iran agrees not to develop or procure nuclear weapons and requires that Iran’s highly-enriched uranium be downgraded on site as a minimum. In return, the US will move to waive, but not eliminate, some wide-ranging sanctions against Iran. The agreement also secures free passage of the strait for only 60 days, and it does not preclude fees in future, according to the US officials and the Iranian draft.
The U.S. Navy has allowed more than a dozen ships through to Iranian ports, lifting a blockade as part of an agreement to end the war, Vice President JD Vance said Thursday. Vance also said he plans to go to Switzerland for talks with Iran this weekend, but that the plan could change. The U.S. military also confirmed that American forces on Thursday lifted their naval blockade of Iranian ports after more than two months of preventing ships from sailing from or to Iran. "Today, U.S. forces lifted the blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas," U.S. Central Command said in a post on X, adding that American warships "will remain in the general area to make sure that all aspects of the agreement are adhered to." The updates came at a White House press briefing, where Vance said more oil is now flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. The Republican vice president said more than 12.5 million barrels went through the shipping channel Wednesday night. "So we're also honoring our end of the early part of the agreement on the military side," he said, citing it as an immediate benefit of the deal as he downplayed criticism that the agreement tilts in favor of Iran. And in an extraordinary rebuke, he warned U.S. critics in Israel against "attacking the only powerful ally" it has left. He lashed out at members of the Israeli government, warning them that "Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time." Vance said he plans to travel to Switzerland for talks on the Iran deal, but he doesn't know when that will happen. "We think these technical negotiations are going to start sometime this weekend. That's still the plan, but that could change," he said. Vance had been expected to lead talks on implementing the agreement with Iran aimed at diluting its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and restarting oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. On Tuesday, two oil tankers left Iran and crossed the U.S. military blockade without being stopped. A merchant shipping tracking website said the ships were carrying a combined total of 3.8 million barrels of Iranian crude oil. Meanwhile, Iranian state media said that shipping has "normalized" at Iran's southern ports but added that the Strait of Hormuz remains supervised and under the control of the Iranian military and transiting through the vital waterway still requires coordination. Much of the agreement would restore the status quo before the war, including ending hostilities, restarting talks between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial passage for the world's oil and natural gas whose closure created a historic energy crisis. Major shipowners have begun moving vessels through the waterway since the agreement was signed on Wednesday, according to maritime data company Lloyd's List Intelligence – though they did not give data on how many ships have passed through the strait as of Thursday. In a media briefing, Richard Meade, editor in chief of Lloyd's List, said for the first time in 110 days, ships owned by major companies are transiting the strait after effectively being marooned there since February. Tankers controlled by major ship owners Grimaldi Group, Cosco, Knutsen and NYK have passed through the strait. And two Iran-flagged, National Iranian Tanker Company-owned, sanctioned crude oil tankers have entered the strait, according to Lloyd's List. Phillip Belcher, marine director of Intertanko, a trade group for global independent tanker owners, said the main central route of the Strait of Hormuz is still closed and has an estimated 80 mines that need to be cleared. But ships have been passing through the smaller Northern route, which goes through Iranian waters, and the Southern route, which goes through Omani waters. The agreement calls for a permanent end to hostilities and starts a 60-day negotiating clock to reach a final deal on the future of Iran's nuclear program, though Trump left the door open to resume attacks. It appears to offer Iran several benefits up front while extracting little in return. It states that Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium must, at a minimum, be diluted under international supervision. It also states that Iran shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons – a commitment it has made previously. But beyond stating that the U.S. and Iran will negotiate over Iran's nuclear program, other commitments still need to be worked out.
Speaking at a White House briefing, Vance said the U.S. Navy had allowed more than a dozen ships to access Iranian ports, lifting a blockade as part of an agreement aimed at ending the conflict. He said the increase in oil flows showed that Washington was honouring its commitments under the initial phase of the deal. Vance said the 60-day period begins on Thursday, with final negotiations expected to determine the terms that will apply after the implementation window ends. Also Read: Pakistan PM's visit to Switzerland postponed due to electronic signing of US-Iran deal: Spokesman He added that Iran did not fire on any ships overnight, a sign of stability for maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route. Outlining U.S. expectations for a final agreement, Vance said Iran would retain the right to self-defence but would not be allowed to possess missiles capable of "broadly threatening the entire world." On sanctions relief, Vance said Washington would be able to monitor how Iran sends and receives money, suggesting that any easing of restrictions would be accompanied by oversight mechanisms. Vance also said Iran would require significant financial resources to rebuild any nuclear weapons programme and reiterated that the administration plans to brief Congress on the agreement soon. Addressing the regional dimension of the accord, Vance said Israel must respect the peace process and described attacks on civilians in Beirut as unacceptable. He said the U.S. expects both sides to honour the Lebanon-related components of the agreement and ultimately wants the Lebanese government to police southern Lebanon. Also Read: 'Did not trade dignity for any threat': Pezeshkian calls US-Iran MOU a 'historical document' from a 'powerful Iran' The vice president said future flare-ups would need to be managed through diplomacy, adding that the agreement provides a framework for reducing tensions while broader negotiations continue. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) Explore More Stories
WASHINGTON — Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the U.S. Navy has allowed more than a dozen ships through to Iranian ports, lifting a blockade as part of an agreement to end the war. Vance made the announcement at a White House press briefing, where he said more oil is now flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. The Republican vice president said more than 12.5 million barrels went through the shipping channel Wednesday night. “So we’re also honoring our end of the early part of the agreement on the military side,” Vance said, citing it as an immediate benefit of the deal as he downplayed criticism that the agreement tilts in favor of Iran. And in an extraordinary rebuke, he warned U.S. critics in Israel against “attacking the only powerful ally” it has left. He lashed out at members of the Israeli government, warning them that “Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time.” Vance said he plans to travel to Switzerland for talks on the Iran deal but he doesn’t know when that will happen. He had been expected to lead talks on implementing the agreement with Iran aimed at diluting its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and restarting oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. On Tuesday, two oil tankers left Iran and crossed the U.S. military blockade without being stopped. A merchant shipping tracking website said the ships were carrying a combined total of 3.8 million barrels of Iranian crude oil. Meanwhile, Iranian state media said that shipping has “normalized” at Iran’s southern ports but added that the Strait of Hormuz remains supervised and under the control of the Iranian military and transiting through the vital waterway still requires coordination. Major shipowners have begun moving vessels through the Strait of Hormuz since the agreement was signed, according to maritime data company Lloyd’s List Intelligence — though they did not give data on how many ships have passed through the strait as of Thursday. In a media briefing, Richard Meade, editor in chief of Lloyd’s List, said for the first time in 110 days, ships owned by major companies are transiting the strait after effectively being marooned there since February. Tankers controlled by major ship owners Grimaldi Group, Cosco, Knutsen and NYK have passed through the strait. And two Iran-flagged, National Iranian Tanker Company-owned, sanctioned crude oil tankers have entered the strait, according to Lloyd’s List. Phillip Belcher, marine director of Intertanko, a trade group for global independent tanker owners, said the main central route of the Strait of Hormuz is still closed and has an estimated 80 mines that need to be cleared. But ships have been passing through the smaller Northern route, which goes through Iranian waters, and the Southern route, which goes through Omani waters. The agreement calls for a permanent end to hostilities and starts a 60-day negotiating clock to reach a final deal on the future of Iran’s nuclear program, though Trump left the door open to resume attacks. It appears to offer Iran several benefits up front while extracting little in return. It states that Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which is believed to be buried under rubble, must at minimum be diluted under international supervision. It also states that Iran shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons — a commitment it has made previously. But beyond stating that the U.S. and Iran will negotiate over Iran’s nuclear program, other commitments still need to be worked out. Much of the agreement would restore the status quo before the war, including ending hostilities, restarting talks between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial passage for the world’s oil and natural gas whose closure created a historic energy crisis.
WORLD The US warned it may resume military operations and impose a blockade on Iran if it fails to meet agreement commitments. Secretary Pete Hegseth stressed enforcement of the deal, while Donald Trump also signalled possible strikes if negotiations do not succeed. The United States has warned that it could resume military operations and even impose a blockade on Iran if Tehran fails to meet its commitments under the ongoing agreement. Speaking to reporters in Brussels after a meeting with NATO defence ministers, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Washington expects Iran to adhere strictly to the agreed timeline and obligations. He stated that the US remains prepared to act if Iran does not comply. 'If Iran does not comply with its commitments within the agreed timeframe, we are fully prepared to resume military operations,' Hegseth said. Hegseth further added that the United States has the capability to reimpose a blockade if Iran fails to follow the terms of the agreement. He emphasised that the goal is to ensure full implementation of the deal by all parties involved. According to Hegseth, the US position is aimed at maintaining pressure to ensure compliance rather than escalating tensions unnecessarily. However, he made it clear that Washington is ready to respond if obligations are not met. Earlier, US President Donald Trump warned at the G7 summit in Évian, France, that military strikes could be reconsidered if upcoming negotiations with Iran do not yield satisfactory results. The remarks highlight growing pressure on Tehran as Western leaders push for stricter compliance and stronger enforcement of the agreement.
- The three Saudi tankers switched their transponders on Thursday after hiding their location for more than two months. - President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a deal Wednesday that is supposed to reopen Hormuz. - At least five Iranian ships have crossed the U.S. blockade line since June 16. Three supertankers from Saudi Arabia loaded with 6 million barrels of oil have crossed the Strait of Hormuz, according to data from the global trade intelligence firm Kpler. The Saudi tankers switched their transponders on Thursday in the Gulf of Oman after hiding their location for more than two months. The crossings come after President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a deal Wednesday that is supposed to reopen Hormuz. Ship traffic through Hormuz, however, has not increased significantly in the hours since the deal was signed. More than 100 ships, dozens of which were tankers, transited the strait daily before the Iran war. "The floodgates haven't opened, there is no mass exodus as yet," said Matt Smith, director of commodity research at Kpler. Shippers still appear hesitant to cross Hormuz, Smith said. The Saudi tankers are very large crude carriers, of VLCCs, that can each carry up to around 2 million barrels of oil. The Shaden is sailing to Kiire, Japan and the Awtad is en route to Ulsan, South Korea, according to Kpler. The Jaham's destination is not clear yet. At least five Iranian ships have crossed the U.S. blockade line since June 16, according to Lloyd's List Intelligence. Three of those vessels were state-owned oil tankers that exited the Gulf of Oman. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.