The United States on Thursday lifted a blockade on Iranian ports imposed during the Middle East war after President Donald Trump signed an agreement aimed at ending the conflict, even as uncertainty grew over planned follow-up talks in Switzerland.
The deal, signed by Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, has triggered a 60-day period for negotiations on wider issues between the two countries, including Iran’s nuclear programme.
However, uncertainty remains over the next steps. It is still unclear whether both sides, which have had no diplomatic relations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, will hold a signing ceremony and talks in Switzerland on Friday as earlier announced.
Oil prices fell after the agreement was signed. But shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz remained limited. The strait is a key energy route that Iran had blocked during the conflict and is expected to reopen immediately under the deal.
The US military said it also lifted its parallel naval blockade of Iranian ports, which had stopped vessels from entering or leaving the country. It added that American warships would remain in the region.
Three Saudi oil tankers crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, according to maritime trackers. The liquefied natural gas carrier Mraikh also became the first French LNG vessel to pass through the strait since the conflict began.
US Vice President JD Vance said American forces had allowed at least 12 ships to pass through the waterway since the war started.
Before the conflict, about 120 ships passed through the strait each day, according to Lloyd’s List.
Vance said he planned to travel to Switzerland for technical talks with Iran over the weekend instead of Friday, although he noted the schedule could still change. Iran’s Tasnim news agency said no confirmation had been received regarding the delegation’s visit.
The agreement is expected to end the US-Israel-Iran conflict that saw five weeks of heavy fighting before a ceasefire in early April. But doubts remain about its durability.
In Tehran, public reaction remained cautious. Mina, a 54-year-old psychologist, said she did not believe the agreement would last and warned that fighting could resume after 60 days.
Under the agreement, Washington will immediately lift oil sanctions that have hit Iran’s economy. Once a final nuclear deal is reached, the US will also help unlock a $300 billion reconstruction fund supported by regional countries.
US officials said Iran will reduce its enriched uranium stockpile under supervision of the UN nuclear watchdog, possibly through on-site down-blending.
Iran’s ballistic missile programme was not included in the agreement, despite Israeli demands for its dismantling.
The deal has also triggered political criticism in Washington. US Senator Bill Cassidy of Trump’s Republican Party called it the “worst foreign policy blunder in decades”.
He said Iran’s nuclear ambitions had not been contained and warned that Tehran had learned pressure on the Strait of Hormuz could influence outcomes.
Trump defended the agreement, saying the United States remained prepared to “bomb the hell” out of Iran if the deal was violated.
He also dismissed critics on social media, claiming they were “jealous, bad people, or stupid”, while pointing to record stock market levels and falling oil prices.
In Iran, some hardliners criticised the deal, describing the conflict as an “imposed war” and comparing it to the 1980–1988 war with Iraq.
However, parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called the agreement a US “failure”, while President Pezeshkian described it as “historic”.
France-based analyst Agnes Lavallois said the US appeared focused mainly on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
She said other issues previously used to justify the war had now become less relevant.
The agreement also references Lebanon, but it remains unclear whether the Israel-Hezbollah conflict will be part of the upcoming 60-day negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, amid reported tensions with Washington, said Israel’s close alliance with the US remained vital and warned that “the struggle is not yet over, and further challenges lie ahead.”
