US lifts Iran blockade as supreme leader endorses direct talks
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- The U.S. lifted its blockade of Iran, allowing oil tankers to move freely through the Strait of Hormuz as a tentative agreement to end the war took effect.
- Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei endorsed direct negotiations with the U.S., marking his first reaction to the agreement.
- Vice President JD Vance may postpone a trip to Switzerland, injecting uncertainty into the promotion of a deal criticized by some Republicans as too favorable to Tehran.
The United States has lifted its blockade on Iran, enabling oil tankers to resume passage through the critical Strait of Hormuz. This move coincides with the implementation of a tentative agreement aimed at concluding the war between the two nations.
In a significant development, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei publicly endorsed direct negotiations with the U.S. This statement, read by state media, represents Khamenei's initial response to the recently finalized agreement. The Supreme Leader has not been seen in public since sustaining injuries during an attack early in the conflict.
It is obvious that the face-to-face negotiations that will be held in the future will not mean accepting the enemy's opinion.
Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance announced a potential postponement of his trip to Switzerland, where a ceremonial signing of the deal was planned. This uncertainty surrounding the visit could complicate efforts to promote the agreement, which has faced criticism from some congressional Republicans who argue it is too lenient towards Tehran.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also postponed a planned visit to Switzerland, where officials from Islamabad were scheduled to host the signing ceremony. The shifting timeline raises new questions and potentially makes it more challenging for the Trump administration to gain support for a deal that has already drawn criticism for its perceived concessions to Iran.
Our plan is to go to Switzerland. I don't know exactly when. I suspect this weekend, but I'm not sure.
Originally published by PBS NewsHour in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.