The United States and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) brokered by Pakistan, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and initiating 60 days of negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme. The deal has drawn a divided international response, with G7 leaders expressing relief while Israel and some US Republicans voice anger and scepticism.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who served as mediator, hailed the agreement as a 'peaceful resolution' that would immediately reopen the strategic strait. G7 leaders, meeting in France, welcomed the MOU as a 'historic opportunity to prevent Iran from acquiring any nuclear weapon'. French President Emmanuel Macron said it would end a 'situation of great instability that had terrible consequences for our economies'.
In Israel, however, the deal has been met with outrage. Former Netanyahu adviser Mark Regev questioned Iran's commitment to nuclear talks now that economic and military pressure has been removed. Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of failing to secure Israel's interests, claiming the agreement gave Iran 'money for the Revolutionary Guards' and left Israel 'waiting in the corridor like a scolded child'. The Times of Israel's David Horovitz argued the US-Israel war on Iran was lost due to 'US presidential weakness'.
Not all Israeli voices opposed the deal. Danny Citrinowicz, former head of the Iran branch of Israeli military intelligence, said it marked a return to 'a more measured and realistic approach' in US policy. In Washington, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham softened his initial criticism after speaking with US envoy Steve Witkoff, stating he saw 'little downside to trying' for a verifiable deal. However, Senator Bill Cassidy remained critical, though his specific remarks were not detailed in the source.
Under the MOU, Iran agrees to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and in return receives waivers on US sanctions for crude oil exports, petroleum products, and banking services. Negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme and its stock of highly enriched uranium are set to follow over the next two months. Israel, facing elections before October, is seeing political fallout as Likud reportedly plans to downplay Netanyahu's ties with Trump amid cooling public opinion.
