LiveUS, Iran announce deal to end war

Japan welcomes US-Iran deal, hopes for Hormuz reopening: PM Takaichi 

Japan welcomed the US-Iran deal towards ending hostilities and hopes for steady implementation of the agreement, including the actual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for international vessels, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Monday.

In an X post, Takaichi said Japan “strongly hopes” that “free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz will be ensured in practice, and that a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear issue and other matters will be reached as soon as possible”.

“Up until now, Japan has taken the position that the most important thing is for the situation to be calmed as quickly as possible, and has made active diplomatic efforts. From this perspective, we welcome this agreement on the memorandum of understanding as a major step towards resolving the situation,” she said.

She noted that this is the result of the parties seeking a diplomatic solution and conducting persistent negotiations, adding that “we also highly appreciate the efforts of the countries that have played a mediating role so far”.

PHOTO: BLOOMBERG

‘Bad deal’: Israelis express discontent over latest US-Iran agreement

Israel’s popular newspaper called the agreement announcing a ceasefire between the US and Iran a “bad deal”, which was a sentiment shared by many Israelis spanning the country’s political spectrum.

Even before the announcement came on Sunday that a ceasefire agreement had been reached, the details that had surfaced in news media reports prompted a flood of criticism and expressions of discontent from Israelis.

The Israelis have also demanded an end to Tehran’s support of its proxy forces hostile to Israel, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, as well as support for Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli experts were alarmed that elements key to Israel appear not to have been mentioned at all.

“A catastrophe from Israel’s perspective,” Avigdor Liberman, a former Israeli defence minister and a right-wing politician, wrote in a social media post on Sunday. 

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Draft MOU includes calls for immediate, permanent halt to war: Iranian media

Iranian media reported on Monday that the draft Iran-US memorandum includes calls for an immediate, permanent halt to war on all fronts, including Lebanon.

The agreement also said it would suspend sanctions on Iranian oil and petrochemical sales, Iran’s Mehr news agency reported.

It also said that the MOU called for the release of US$24 billion (S$29.4 billion) in Iranian blocked funds during the talks.

Along with excluding Iran’s missile programme and support for resistance groups from the final talks, the draft deal also envisaged 60 days of talks on nuclear issues.

US could resume attacks on Iran if nuclear accord not reached, Trump tells NYT

President Donald Trump told the New York Times on Sunday if Iran failed to reach a final nuclear accord with the United States, he would restart military attacks on Tehran or make the US “the guardian of the Middle East” in return for 20 per cent of the region’s revenues.

Trump told the Times in an interview the agreement he reached with Iran would ultimately assure that the Strait of Hormuz is “permanently toll free” and argued that, despite the objections of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, he had saved Israel from nuclear obliteration.

PHOTO: ERIC LEE/NYTIMES

Iran military says it ‘humiliated’ US, Israel in war: State media 

Iran’s military said on Monday that it had “humiliated” the US and Israel, in a statement issued after an agreement to immediately end the conflict was announced.

Iranian forces “have, through the imposition of their divine and iron will upon the humiliated American and Zionist enemies, demonstrated with strength that the enemy has no path other than accepting defeat and surrender”, the general staff said in the statement broadcast by state television. 
 

UN chief Guterres welcomes US-Iran peace deal as ‘critical step’ 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday welcomed the US-Iran peace deal with its permanent ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as a “critical step” towards resolving the war in the Middle East.

“The Secretary-General hopes that the parties will build on this new momentum and redouble their efforts towards a final resolution of the conflict,” Guterres said in a statement attributed to his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

PHOTO: AFP

Leaders of UK, France, Germany and Italy express support to US-Iran deal

The urgent re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz with “unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation is essential”, said the leaders of UK, France, Germany and Italy in a joint statement.

They added: “Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon. We stand ready to work with the US, Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency to this end.”

The leaders said they were prepared to lift sanctions on Iran in response to steps on its nuclear programme after the US and Iran reached a deal to end their war.

“We reaffirm full support to the stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon and the importance of a robust ceasefire.”

Britain PM Starmer welcomes US-Iran peace deal

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday welcomed the agreement reached between The United States and Iran to end their war.

“We are clear that toll-free freedom of navigation must now be restored in the Strait of Hormuz,” he said, adding that “Iran must never have a nuclear weapon.”

Strait of Hormuz to re-open on Friday

Both US President Donald Trump and Iran’s Tasnim news agency have confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz will re-open on Friday after the MOU is signed between the 2 countries. 

PHOTO: REUTERS

Iran says it has won ‘great victories’ in war with the US

Iran’s deputy foreign minister said the country had “won great victories” in the war against the United States, speaking as the sides announced an agreement to immediately end the conflict.

“The enemy that had attacked to carry out its evil aims was defeated in all its aims and the Islamic Republic of Iran won great victories in the war,” deputy minister Kazem Gharibabadi said in televised comments in the early hours of Monday.