People wave flags near the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad on June 15 during celebrations following the announcement of a deal to end the war between Iran and the United States.

US, Iran Sign Framework Deal Electronically Ahead Of Official Ceremony

14 Jun 2026, 23:40 by Alex Raufoglu · Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty · Join

WASHINGTON -- The United States and Iran have electronically signed a framework deal to end the three-month-long war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, senior US administration officials said on June 15.

Speaking on background to reporters, the officials said US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance signed the agreement virtually, while Iran's parliament speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, signed on behalf of Tehran.

The deal is expected to be formally signed during a ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 19.

The full text of the memorandum is set to be released publicly within 24 to 48 hours, the officials said, insisting there would be "full transparency" and "no side deals."

The framework deal gives Washington and Tehran 60 days to negotiate a permanent settlement, including disputes over Iran's enriched uranium stockpile.

Strait Of Hormuz

Earlier on June 15, Washington and Tehran both confirmed a deal had been reached.

Iran's state-run Mehr news agency issued what it said were the details of the 14-point memorandum of understanding, saying it envisions 60 days of talks concerning nuclear issues and the full lifting of sanctions against Tehran.

Washington has emphasized that the key element of any comprehensive peace deal would be to assure Iran does not achieve a nuclear weapon and that the Strait of Hormuz be open to the free flow of shipping.

The strait, a key artery for global oil and gas supplies, was effectively closed by Iran after the launch of the US-Israeli military campaign on February 28. The move rattled energy markets and upended the global economy.

The senior US officials said they expect maritime traffic in the strait to increase significantly over the next two weeks.

"If you think of pre-conflict traffic as about 140 ships a day, I think we'll get a very long way there over the next couple of weeks," one official said.

The administration said around 25 ships are currently transiting daily, with expectations that there could be between 40 and 50 by the end of the week. Officials said the strait will be fully open by June 19.

Washington insisted that passage through the strait would remain toll-free for 60 days under the memorandum, with regional talks to determine long-term arrangements.

But ambiguity persists regarding fees for passage through the strategic waterway.

The Fars news agency, which is close to the hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), said that "it has been decided that marine traffic through the Gulf will be regulated by Iran in coordination with Oman" -- remarks that run counter to Washington's claims.

Esmail Baqaei, spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, said at a press conference on June 15 that "for a specific period of time, we are going to arrange safe traffic in the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with the actions of the other side."

"We have always said that we are not looking to collect tolls, but we will design and collect the necessary fees for the services we will provide, navigation services, environmental protection, possibly ship insurance, and other services that will be provided by Iran and Oman," he said.

Frozen Assets

Reuters quoted a senior Iranian official as saying that, under the terms of the deal, the United States will release $25 billion of frozen ‌Iranian assets while Tehran agrees not to produce or acquire nuclear weapons.

US officials flatly denied any money had changed hands, despite speculation that billions of dollars in Iranian assets had already been unfrozen.

"The answer to that is zero," one official said when asked whether any frozen Iranian assets had been released.

The US officials said sanctions relief would come only in phases and would be tied to "verifiable milestones," particularly related to Iran's nuclear activities and regional conduct.

Washington said its immediate priority is ensuring Iran does not rebuild what officials described as a "systematically destroyed" nuclear enrichment program.

"The more they behave like a normal global country, the more willing we'll be to open up their economy," one official said.

The US officials said Israeli troop withdrawals from Lebanon were not a condition of the agreement, but they framed the Iran deal as part of a broader effort to reduce regional hostilities.

Officials said the framework was "not a one-way cease-fire," warning Israel would retain the right to respond if Iranian-backed Hezbollah attacks continue.

Hezbollah is both a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. It is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, although the European Union has only blacklisted its armed wing.

However, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on June 15 that Tehran and Washington had agreed an "immediate and permanent" end to the military operations on "all fronts, including Lebanon." Islamabad has bene a key mediator in the conflict.

The administration also revealed that direct talks between Israel and Lebanon are under way, calling them historic.

Officials said the broader goal is to create a "new framework for the region" focused on diplomacy and economic cooperation rather than proxy warfare.

Mixed Feelings In Iran

Ordinary Iranians are still digesting what the framework deal means for them, with some cautiously optimistic and others hesitant.

"I hope they sign the agreement so that we can have relative peace," a woman in her 50s told RFE/RL's Radio Farda. She, like others who contacted RFE/RL, opted to withhold her name due to security fears.

She said the conflict was difficult on people and that "the stress of war with stay will us for years."

She hoped for better relations with the United States but added that is unlikely to happen as long as Iran's clerical establishment is in power.

"I just hope there is no more war. It only made things worse," she said.

A man in his 30s also expressed joy with the cessation of hostilities but was not sure how a final deal would impact Iran's domestic affairs.

"If it creates more openings and improves the economy, then it will be a positive thing," he told Radio Farda, hoping it would weaken the Islamic republic.

"I hope in the long-term it will lead to the fall of the Islamic republic, because they don't care about people," he added.

Another Iranian in their late 30s argued that many see the deal as a "short-term arrangement" and so they are "not hopeful about it." Still, they noted staunch opposition from some hard-liners in Iran, and concluded that the deal with the United States will be likely part of a "process to change the regime from the inside."

US, Iran Sign Framework Deal Electronically Ahead Of Official Ceremony

US, Iran Sign Framework Deal Electronically Ahead Of Official Ceremony

Strait Of Hormuz

Frozen Assets

Mixed Feelings In Iran

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