On Monday, senior administration officials told reporters that President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had electronically signed the U.S.-Iran agreement on Sunday.
Significance Of The Deal: The agreement is being viewed as an early test of whether the U.S. and Iran can transform a temporary halt in hostilities into a wider diplomatic resolution — beginning with restoring movement through the Strait of Hormuz and later tackling the far more complex issue of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Current Situation: U.S. officials say a 60-day extension of the ceasefire is now in place, including coverage for the conflict in Lebanon. However, the Strait of Hormuz is not expected to resume operations until the agreement is formally signed during a ceremony scheduled for Friday in Geneva.
Vice President JD Vance, U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, alongside Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, are expected to meet on Friday with mediators from Pakistan and Qatar to begin discussions on the next stage of the agreement.
U.S. officials said the complete text of the memorandum of understanding is expected to be made public within the next 24 to 48 hours, although President Trump indicated that publication could be delayed until after the agreement is formally signed.
The broader context: Both Washington and Tehran are actively trying to control the narrative around a deal that most of the public has not seen in full, even as financial markets, foreign governments and citizens worldwide react in real time to its reported implications.
The U.S. has said that any sanctions relief for Iran will depend on Tehran meeting agreed conditions, while Iranian state media has portrayed the package in significantly more expansive and favourable terms.
Shipping companies are holding off on sending cargo through the Strait of Hormuz, saying they need stronger assurances from Tehran before resuming normal operations.
Hardline voices in Washington and Israel are calling on the White House to spell out exactly what concessions Iran would receive under the agreement, and to clarify what steps would be taken if the nuclear talks ultimately break down.
Key Questions Still Unanswered: Here are eight important questions that remain unresolved about the agreement.
1. Has The Deal Officially Taken Effect?
The memorandum of understanding was electronically signed on Sunday, with a formal signing ceremony expected in Switzerland on Friday.
A 60-day ceasefire extension is already in place, but full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has not yet occurred.
President Trump had earlier announced that the blockade would be lifted immediately, but later stated that the strait would only reopen after the Friday ceremony.
A U.S. defence official said military preparations are underway to end the blockade on Friday.
While Trump claimed shipping activity had already resumed, Iranian state media reported that the situation in the strait remains unchanged.
2. Will The Strait Of Hormuz Be Fully Reopened?
The United States has maintained that the agreement would restore full access to the Strait of Hormuz, with no tolls or additional operating limits.
According to a regional diplomat who spoke to Axios, the deal envisions shipping activity returning to prewar levels within about 30 days.
Iranian officials, however, have offered a different interpretation, telling state media that the strait will not simply revert to its previous “pre-war” condition and that Tehran will still retain a degree of control.
The Fars news agency further reported that Iran agreed not to collect tolls during the initial 60-day period, but may introduce safety and environmental charges afterwards.
A senior U.S. administration official said the agreement also includes plans for a wider regional discussion on the future of the waterway, aimed at preventing any future closure.
Meanwhile, shipping operators are taking a cautious approach. Companies such as Maersk say they are awaiting stronger security assurances, and analysts remain sceptical that traffic will quickly return to normal levels.
The same U.S. official noted that shipping volumes are expected to rise over the next two weeks, though full normalisation is unlikely in the short term, as some crews prefer to wait for greater stability before resuming regular passage.
3. What Does Iran Gain From The Deal?
Both sides agree that Iran stands to gain two major benefits: a halt to the fighting and limited sanctions relief to support the resumption of oil exports.
That would immediately provide Tehran with a vital boost in revenue, although Iranian state media has also suggested that the government could receive access to billions of dollars in frozen assets simply for agreeing to the deal.
A senior U.S. official strongly rejected that claim, insisting that any release of funds would operate on a “pay for performance model,” with financial benefits tied to Iran meeting specific obligations. The administration also says broader economic relief would depend on the successful conclusion of a more detailed nuclear agreement.
Some critics have raised concerns that undisclosed side arrangements could allow Iran quicker access to cash, but the White House has dismissed such suggestions as “misinformation.”
However, a senior U.S. official acknowledged that both sides may make limited early “gestures,” including modest movement on sanctions and frozen funds, provided Iran demonstrates reciprocal steps toward compliance.
4. Is There A Shared Understanding Of The Agreement?
The U.S. and Iran have presented differing interpretations of what the deal entails and what each side is expected to receive in return.
Officials say this divergence is partly due to the indirect nature of the negotiations, which were conducted through mediators, as well as the fact that the memorandum of understanding is a broad political framework rather than a detailed legal treaty.
That lack of precision could allow both sides to publicly claim success while still holding different expectations about how the agreement will be implemented.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a known hawk and Trump ally, said he is “somewhat concerned that Iran’s view of the agreement seems different than what the American negotiating team is claiming.”
A senior administration official, however, argued that the inconsistencies are being driven by Iran exaggerating or “overselling” the deal for domestic political purposes.
5. Will The Full Text Be Released?
A lot of the uncertainty could be resolved if the agreement or mediators release the complete memorandum of understanding.
During a briefing on Monday, a senior U.S. official said the full text is expected to be made public within the next 24 to 48 hours. However, President Trump suggested publication could be delayed until after Friday’s signing ceremony.
6. Will Israel Comply With The Ceasefire Terms?
The agreement has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum in Israel, particularly as the country heads toward elections in less than four months and the deal includes provisions for a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has said Israel will not withdraw from areas it currently occupies in southern Lebanon and will retain the right to respond to any Hezbollah attacks. He also warned that if Iran responds militarily to Israeli actions in Lebanon, Israel would retaliate with “full force.”
A senior U.S. official said the agreement does not require Israeli withdrawal and is not designed as a one-sided ceasefire, arguing that Israel would still be able to respond to attacks by Hezbollah.
However, Israeli officials remain concerned that their operational freedom in Lebanon could be significantly restricted under the framework of the deal.
Following an Israeli strike in Beirut on Sunday that nearly disrupted the negotiations, President Trump told Axios that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had “no fucking judgment.”
Trump also said on Monday that he hoped to “solve” the situation in Lebanon, adding that “we’ll have to have a little chat with Hezbollah about this.”
7. Is A Full Nuclear Deal Likely To Follow?
The memorandum of understanding is intended to open a 60-day window for detailed negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme.
However, the core nuclear provisions — along with most of the sanctions relief Iran is seeking — depend on a more technical and comprehensive final agreement.
U.S. officials have acknowledged that reaching such a deal will be extremely challenging, given the deep mutual mistrust between both sides and the difficulty already encountered in agreeing on the broader framework.
Earlier this month, envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner reportedly visited Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where they met with nuclear experts expected to contribute to future negotiations.
Looking ahead, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, one of the key mediators, said additional meetings are expected “this week” to prepare for the formal start of nuclear talks.
8. Could The Conflict Resume If No Nuclear Deal Is Reached?
U.S. officials have said American forces deployed to the region will not be withdrawn unless a nuclear agreement is secured.
One senior official argued that the damage already inflicted on Iran has strengthened the prospects of a deal, adding that President Trump still retains “tools in his arsenal” should diplomatic efforts fail.
Iranian officials, on the other hand, maintain that Trump was under pressure to end the war and now believe Tehran holds greater leverage in the negotiations.
A senior administration official told reporters that the coming two to three weeks will be critical in determining whether the current understandings can develop into a full agreement.
In response to criticism from hawkish voices, the same official told Axios that Trump’s primary objectives were always to stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon or maintaining its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, adding that the administration believes the deal achieves both goals and will improve the safety of U.S. forces, allies, and the wider region.
