EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France/DUBAI/JERUSALEM — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States and Iran have already signed a preliminary agreement aimed at ending the war in the Gulf. However, the full details of the deal have not yet been made public.
Speaking after arriving in France for the G7 summit, Trump said “the deal’s all signed” and indicated that U.S. Vice President JD Vance would attend a formal signing ceremony in Geneva on Friday. The announcement marks what officials describe as the most significant diplomatic step yet toward resolving a conflict that has disrupted the Middle East and global energy markets.
However, much of the agreement remains unconfirmed and key provisions have not been publicly released. Reuters reported that U.S. and Iranian officials have described the framework as a potential pathway toward lifting sanctions, unfreezing assets, and establishing a reconstruction fund reportedly worth hundreds of billions of dollars, though these figures have not been independently verified.
According to officials cited by Reuters, Iran would be required to meet U.S. conditions that include assurances it will not pursue nuclear weapons and restrictions on support for regional proxy groups such as Hezbollah in order to access the proposed economic benefits.
The agreement, if fully implemented, would also address restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route. Officials said the deal would restore maritime passage through the waterway, although shipping sources cautioned that normal operations would depend on security assurances and safety conditions in the area.
Despite the announcement, major uncertainties remain. The fate of Iran’s nuclear program and uranium stockpile has not been fully resolved, while Iranian officials continue to deny any intention to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran has also stated that it has given up limited concessions under the framework.
The conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon remains another unresolved issue. Reuters reported that the fighting has displaced an estimated 1.2 million people. Iranian officials have called for a full cessation of hostilities, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would maintain its military presence in southern Lebanon and retain the right to respond to attacks.
Netanyahu also said that Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory is not part of the agreement. A U.S. official, cited by Reuters, confirmed that Israeli withdrawal is not a condition of the deal.
Security sources reported that violence has decreased since the announcement, although it has not fully stopped. Lebanese state media said an Israeli drone strike killed a driver in southern Lebanon, while Israeli officials said their forces had killed several militants in separate operations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Israeli military actions must stop immediately for the agreement to hold. Meanwhile, Israeli officials have privately expressed skepticism about the deal, with one senior official telling Reuters it was “terrible for Israel,” a view reportedly shared across parts of the Israeli government.
While the agreement is being described as a major diplomatic breakthrough, officials on all sides acknowledge that many of its provisions remain subject to further negotiation and clarification in the coming days.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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