Trump and Iran say agreement to be signed on Friday

The US and Iran have agreed to sign a deal in Geneva on Friday aimed at ending hostilities, including lifting a US blockade of Iranian ports and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. However, the two nations have provided conflicting accounts of the agreement’s terms, leaving key details unresolved. The deal follows tensions in the region, including an Israeli airstrike in Beirut hours before the announcement, which angered President Donald Trump. Trump, currently traveling to the G7 summit in France, has publicly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the strike. The agreement’s success hinges on addressing decades of strained relations, including demining the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief, and nuclear program restrictions. Negotiators face a tight 60-day deadline to resolve complex issues like Iran’s nuclear capabilities, uranium enrichment limits, and the fate of frozen Iranian assets. Experts warn the timeline may need extending due to the technical and political challenges involved. Regional mediators and major powers like China, Russia, and European nations may play a crucial role in resolving disputes, given their expertise in nuclear, legal, and economic matters. However, opposition from allies like Israel, hardline Iranian factions, and critics in Washington threatens to derail progress. The agreement must also distinguish itself from the 2015 nuclear deal, which Trump has repeatedly dismissed as flawed. Markets have reacted positively to the deal, with oil prices dropping to their lowest levels in nearly three months as the Strait of Hormuz’s reopening eases supply concerns. Yet analysts describe the agreement as a ‘fragile reprieve’ rather than a lasting solution, given the lingering risks of renewed conflict. The economic recovery from the war’s impact could take months, even if the deal holds. Unlike the 2015 nuclear agreement, which took years to negotiate, this deal faces heightened pressure due to recent escalations, including the death of Iran’s revered leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Both sides must now prove the agreement is superior to its predecessor to secure domestic and international support.