Iran and the United States say an agreement to end the conflict is in force, but questions remain about its implementation.
Published June 18, 2026
US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have electronically signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the nearly four-month-old conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
The agreement has already entered into force, according to Pakistani officials and statements from both sides. This includes commitments to halt military operations on all fronts, prevent Iran from developing or acquiring nuclear weapons, and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s vital shipping lane.
While the agreement has been hailed as a potential breakthrough, questions remain about its implementation.
Here’s what we know:
in iran
Iran says the memorandum of understanding is now in force: Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghai said Iran and the United States have finalized and electronically signed the agreement, paving the way for talks towards a final agreement within the next 60 days. Iran warns it will closely monitor US compliance: Baghai said Iran will monitor the US’ implementation of the memorandum “without any tolerance” and will not fulfill its commitments if the US fails to meet its obligations. He reiterated that Iran’s missile program is non-negotiable. Experts expect nuclear talks to last more than 60 days: Kenneth Katzman, a senior fellow at the Soufan Center, said negotiations between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program are likely to take longer than the 60-day schedule outlined in the memorandum of understanding. He described the meeting as “very detailed” and “very comprehensive.” He added that issues such as uranium enrichment, highly enriched uranium stockpiles, verification measures and testing will require extensive work by technical experts.
in the US
President Trump faces Republican backlash over Iran deal: Several prominent Republicans, including former Vice President Mike Pence, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, and Sen. Bill Cassidy, criticized President Trump’s tentative deal with Iran. Critics say the deal does not do enough to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and opposes a $300 billion plan to rebuild Iran. Some Republicans have compared the deal to former President Barack Obama’s 2015 nuclear deal, which Trump unilaterally withdrew from during his first term.
in lebanon
Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon could take months: Rami Khouri, a distinguished researcher at the American University of Beirut, said it was unlikely that Israel would completely withdraw from southern Lebanon in the near future. He told Al Jazeera that negotiations between the US and Iran could take “four to five months” to reach a conclusion, and broader regional issues still need to be addressed. Lebanon’s future remains uncertain: Reporting from southern Lebanon, Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodor said the conflict is “not over” as Israeli attacks continue in the region. Hodor also said many residents remained concerned about whether Israel would honor the ceasefire, with large areas of southern Lebanon remaining closed to civilians after months of fighting and destruction. Security sources also told Al Jazeera that they believe Israel may still be seeking to expand its control over strategic areas along the border.
