• Technical talks to begin this week
• Geneva framework will be precursor to 60-day negotiations on N-programme, sanctions
• Iran looks to administer Hormuz alongside Oman, wants ships to pay ‘maritime service’ fees

MEDIATED by Pakistan and Qatar, a peace deal to end more than 100 days of war between the Iran and the United States is likely to be formally signed in Geneva on Friday.

On Monday, US President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz, which has been under a de facto Iranian blockade, will open to all shipping by June 19, while Tehran said the US naval blockade on its ports will be lifted immediately.

In a statement, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said that negotiations for a final agreement will be postponed until after the US has fulfilled its obligations.

US Vice President J.D. Vance hoped the peace agreement would usher in “a new era with the Iranians”.

Meanwhile, Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, confirmed that an end to military operations was expected “soon”.

According to remarks carried by Iran’s Tasnim news agency, Gharibabadi said an “immediate and permanent end to the war and military operations on various fronts, including Lebanon”, would be announced starting Monday.

‘14 points’

Although the text of the deal has yet to be publicly released, Iranian media reported that the draft agreement contained 14 points.

According to the Mehr news agency, the draft envisages the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets during a 60-day negotiation period, with half the amount to be made available before the talks begin.

The draft also calls for the suspension of sanctions on the sale of Iranian oil, petrochemical products and their derivatives.

Under the agreement, the US would lift what Iran describes as a naval blockade on its ports and coastlines, in place since April 13, and “withdraw its forces” from the vicinity of Iran.

Mr Gharibabadi said final talks would only start after the US fulfils key commitments under the framework, including ending the naval blockade, ending military operations and releasing Iran’s blocked funds. The framework is intended as a precursor to 60 days of negotiations on key disputes, including Iran’s nuclear programme.

Issues including Iran’s enrichment activities, its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and longstanding US and UN sanctions are expected to be discussed during that period.

Discussions concerning Iran’s missile programme and its support for resistance groups have been removed from the negotiating agenda, Mehr added.

Hormuz ‘toll’

Upon announcing the agreement, US President Donald Trump said on social media that the crucial Strait of Hormuz would be open “toll free”.

The Mehr news agency reported that Iran would reopen the waterway “within 30 days under Iranian arrangements”, without elaborating.

On Monday, Iran’s Fars news agency said Tehran had added the imposition of maritime service fees in Hormuz in the final moments of negotiations.

“The use of the term ‘maritime services’ means that the United States has accepted that fees will be paid to Iran,” it said, quoting what it said was an informed source.

On Friday, Araghchi said charging tolls would not be acceptable under international law but that Iran would charge service fees, adding that any future arrangements would be implemented in cooperation with Oman.

“Iran has made a firm decision that the administration of the Strait of Hormuz will no longer be the same as before,” he said, adding that the waterway remained an Iranian “instrument of deterrence”.

60 days for talks

Announcing the deal on Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that a series of meetings will be held this week to lay the foundation for technical talks and the official signing ceremony, expected to be held in Geneva later this week.

Another issue to be discussed there is post-war “reconstruction and economic development”, according to Gharibabadi, although he did not elaborate.

He added that a mechanism ensuring compliance with the deal would also be discussed.

Araghchi said on Friday that Iran’s preferred approach to its stockpile of highly enriched uranium would be “to dilute it inside Iran”.

On Monday, the New York Times reported on a phone interview with Trump in which he said talks were ongoing over whether Iran would suspend its enrichment for 20 years but hinted that he might settle for a 15-year suspension.

He also insisted that Iran’s uranium enrichment levels could never be used by the military and that it “can never go beyond a certain amount”.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2026