US President says the deal will prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and pave the way for wider regional diplomacy….reports Asian Lite News Desk
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a new agreement with Iran aimed at preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, restoring commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and laying the groundwork for a broader diplomatic settlement across the Middle East.
Speaking at the conclusion of the G7 Summit in France, Trump said the agreement would bring an end to the current conflict and open a path towards a more comprehensive regional arrangement, while retaining enforcement measures if Iran failed to meet its commitments.
“On Sunday, we reached an agreement with Iran that achieves everything we set out to accomplish,” Trump said.
“Ending the current conflict, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.”
Senior US officials later released a 14 paragraph memorandum of understanding outlining the framework of the agreement. Under the terms of the memorandum, Iran has committed not to procure or develop nuclear weapons, while commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would resume.
The agreement also establishes a 60 day period for negotiations on a final settlement, links sanctions relief to Iranian compliance and provides for international monitoring of Tehran’s enriched nuclear material.
Trump said the deal had received support from several world leaders attending the summit, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders from the Gulf region.
“Prime Minister Modi was here, we had a long talk,” Trump said, adding that leaders were pleased with the breakthrough.
The US President said he had also held discussions with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt during the summit.
According to Trump, the agreement could become the foundation for a wider diplomatic initiative across the Middle East.
“As I expressed to the world leaders here this week, it’s my hope that the peace agreement will be the beginning of a much larger deal all across the Middle East,” he said.
Trump identified the expansion of the Abraham Accords, stabilisation efforts in Lebanon and addressing Iran backed proxy groups as key future objectives.
“So, the expansion of the Abraham Accords is the other thing that we hope we’re going to get,” he said.
The President also urged Israel to adopt a more measured approach in Lebanon, addressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly.
“You can do a little softer touch, Bibi,” Trump said.
“You don’t have to knock down a building every time somebody walks into it that’s from Hezbollah.”
Trump further thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin for maintaining neutrality during the conflict.
“He stayed neutral,” Trump said of Xi.
“And I want to thank Vladimir Putin; he was very neutral,” he added.
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy corridor, is expected to ease concerns over oil supplies and could help reduce pressure on energy prices worldwide.
“Oil prices are plummeting,” Trump said.
The development is particularly significant for major energy importing nations, including India, as a substantial share of global crude oil exports passes through the strategic waterway linking the Persian Gulf to international markets.
However, Trump emphasised that the agreement would be backed by a combination of diplomacy, economic pressure and the threat of military action if Iran failed to comply with its obligations.
“If they don’t adhere to the agreement,” he said, “we’re going to bomb the hell out of them.”
