News and politics live: Donald Trump announces US-Iran peace deal breakthrough as Strait of Hormuz reopens

Iran says after mamoth talks over the past 24 hours, terms for an agreement were reached, confirming signing from Iranian officials is now planned.

“The negotiation process has taken a long time,” Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, told Iranian state media.

“In recent weeks, various talks and consultations have taken place with the mediation of Pakistan and Qatar.

“Today, in fact, yesterday, a delegation from Qatar was in Tehran to complete talks on the text of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the United States.

“There were very long discussions, perhaps more than fourteen or fifteen hours, during which we presented the Islamic Republic of Iran’s latest amendments to the text, and naturally, these amendments were accepted, and the text of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding was finalised.

“This is currently the final text of the memorandum of understanding.

“The official signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding will take place on Friday between the main parties, which includes Switzerland.”

Qatar’s PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, has thanked the US and Pakistan for their work in securing a deal with Iran.

“We welcome the agreement reached on the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he wrote online.

“We extend our thanks to our brothers in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, as well as to all regional and international parties that contributed to creating the conditions conducive to reaching this understanding.

“We look forward to all parties engaging in the forthcoming negotiations in a positive and constructive spirit that will help consolidate this progress and build upon it.

“We reaffirm that the State of Qatar will remain a steadfast supporter of these efforts and of all endeavours aimed at strengthening security and stability at the regional and international levels through dialogue and peaceful means.”

White smoke has reportedly been seen rising above the White House, according to tradition, it signals a new peace deal has been signed.

The post comes after US President Donald Trump announced a breakthrough agreement between the United States and Iran, declaring the deal “complete” and confirming the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

While the White House is not known for using Vatican-style signals, the President appeared to embrace the symbolism as celebrations continued over what he has described as a historic diplomatic breakthrough.

Further details of the agreement and its implementation are expected in the coming days ahead of a formal signing ceremony in Switzerland.

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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has welcomed news of the US-Iran peace deal, saying toll-free freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must now be restored.

“I warmly welcome today’s agreement reached between the United States and Iran. This is a hugely important step forward in ending the war, ensuring regional stability and re-opening the Strait of Hormuz,” Mr Starmer said in a statement published online.

“I congratulate President Trump and the mediators from Pakistan, Qatar and elsewhere who have contributed to this breakthrough. We have long urged de-escalation and this is the progress we had hoped to see.

“Attention must now turn to fully implementing the memorandum of understanding to ensure the Strait reopens and remains fully and permanently open, and that the detailed elements of the nuclear agreement are finalised. We stand ready to support the technical talks that will now begin. Our priority is that this becomes a durable and lasting peace, and we will work with international partners to support that.

“We are clear that toll-free freedom of navigation must now be restored in the Strait of Hormuz, to begin easing the severe economic impacts that have been felt for several months – on families here in the UK and around the world.”

US Vice President JD Vance has told Fox News that US President Donald Trump may travel to Switzerland on Friday to sign the historic peace deal reached with Iran.

“I think we are still figuring out the logistics on who is going to attend that signing ceremony.

“I certainly plan to be there, but it is possible the president himself could be there.

“We’ll figure it out... but what we know is we have a lot of work to do, but a very big win for the American people tonight.”

Mr Vance said the Trump administration would continue to ensure the Middle East was less of a “basket case”.

US Vice President JD Vance says the deal reached between the US and Iran will bring in a new era of global prosperity, shielding people from the “chaos” of Tehran’s former actions.

“You’ve heard about the constant chaos of the region,” Mr Vance told Fox News shortly after US President Donald Trump announced a deal was done.

“What the President has done is create the real space to transform that region, cooperation between the Gulf Arab allies and the Israelis, and now, hopefully, a new era with the Iranians.

“We are going to verify and ensure they are meeting their end of the bargain.

Mr Vance said the deal was a “great thing for the American people”.

“I know they have suffered high gas prices. The President has certainly been very concerned about that fact,” Mr Vance said.

“What we’re going to be able to do is drive down the cost of energy, not just now but for the long term, and create a real engine of prosperity in the Middle East where Americans benefit from those lower energy prices, lower gas prices, and we don’t have that same risk of chaos we’ve had for the last generations.

“We have achieved something great.”

US President Donald Trump has declared a peace deal with Iran complete, just moments after Pakistan announced an agreement had been reached to end hostilities between the two nations and bring military operations across the region to a halt.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shebaz Sharif revealed on X that the United States and Iran had agreed to the “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon”, with an official signing ceremony scheduled for June 19 in Switzerland. The Prime Minister thanked the US and Iran for pursuing a diplomatic solution and credited Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye for helping broker the agreement.

Mr Trump later appeared to confirm the breakthrough, posting on social media, “The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all!” He announced the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the removal of the US naval blockade, writing: “Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!”

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