WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): US President Donald Trump on Thursday, June 18, reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to peace in West Asia following the signing of a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran, stating that Washington DC expects “complete ceasefire” between Hezbollah and Israel.
US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian digitally signed a landmark 14-point “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding”, ending months of conflict and setting in motion an ambitious process that envisages a permanent ceasefire, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, sweeping sanctions relief for Tehran and international oversight of Iran’s nuclear program.
In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump expressed optimism about a broader regional ceasefire and the positive impact of the agreement on global markets. He said the United States remains focused on ensuring that ongoing negotiations lead to lasting stability across the region.
“The United States is committed to PEACE, and we encourage everyone in the Middle East Region to maintain their commitment to allowing our negotiations to beautifully unfold. The Markets are loving what is happening with Oil Prices way down, and Stocks way up. We expect a complete Ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump wrote.
Earlier, US Vice President JD Vance strongly defended the newly signed peace framework with Iran, describing it as a diplomatic achievement backed by significant military successes that had already neutralized immediate threats posed by Tehran.
Addressing reporters at the White House, Vance said the US military campaign had severely degraded Iran’s military capabilities and eliminated its nuclear weapons programme.
“We destroyed a substantial number of their ballistic missiles and their ballistic missile launchers themselves. The nuclear weapons program is destroyed. It is gone,” Vance said.
The Vice President argued that the peace agreement was not a concession but rather an extension of the strategic gains already achieved on the ground.
Vance also clarified that the agreement does not compromise the right of self-defense for either side.
“Israel doesn’t give up the right of self-defense… The Iranians don’t give up the right of self-defense,” he said, adding that the United States expects Iran to abandon efforts to develop missiles capable of threatening countries beyond the region.
He further stressed that Washington’s long-term objective is to prevent Iran from financing regional instability and militant activities.
The agreement has triggered a 60-day negotiation period during which both countries are expected to finalize arrangements concerning sanctions relief, frozen Iranian assets and the future of Tehran’s nuclear program.
According to Vance, implementation of certain provisions has already begun. He revealed that the US Navy facilitated the passage of more than a dozen commercial vessels to Iranian ports, with over 12.5 million barrels of oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday night.
The memorandum also calls for a permanent halt to military operations across multiple fronts, including Lebanon. While the Trump administration has described the deal as essential for preventing a wider economic and energy crisis, critics have questioned whether early concessions granted to Iran could weaken Washington’s leverage in future negotiations.
However, Vance dismissed concerns about political repercussions, stating that the administration would soon brief Congress on the agreement and its implementation.
Meanwhile, VP JD Vance’s Switzerland visit is delayed as technical talks await finalization, says a White House spokesperson, according to ANI.
The spokesperson said that a delegation has been prepared to depart at the first available opportunity.
“As the Vice President said at his press conference, the plans for the upcoming technical talks have not been finalized, and the US delegation has been prepared to depart at the first available opportunity. But the logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable,” the spokesperson said.
“As of now, the Vice President is not departing tonight. We will let you know as soon as we have a concrete update about next steps. We look forward to beginning technical talks as soon as possible,” they added.
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