CNN reported on the 15th (local time) that the United States and Iran agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the nature of an end-of-war declaration, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the blockade of Iranian ports, and completed a remote signing.
The agreement is seen as a turning point that eases months of heightened tensions in the Middle East and anxiety in energy markets.
According to CNN, U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance signed the memorandum remotely. On the Iranian side, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf took part in the signing.
The two sides plan to hold an official signing ceremony in Switzerland on Friday, followed by subsequent negotiations.
CNN projected that the Strait of Hormuz, the core of the agreement, appears likely to return to normal in stages.
Citing a senior U.S. official, CNN said traffic through the strait has already begun to increase, with meaningful recovery expected within 1–2 weeks. As a result, international oil prices fell to their lowest level in three months.
However, the two sides are split over how to implement the agreement and how to structure the follow-up talks.
CNN reported that the United States and Iran are offering different explanations about the follow-up steps after Friday's signing.
On the U.S. side, Vice President JD Vance is said to be leading the working-level talks and is expected to steer future negotiations for a permanent truce.
Quoting a senior U.S. official, CNN reported that Vance taking a key role in the later stage of the talks came at the direct urging of President Trump. Vance is known to have advanced the working-level negotiations by leveraging his existing ties with key mediators during the process.
By contrast, Iran continues to voice strong doubts about the U.S. will to carry out the deal.
According to CNN, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, "We are negotiating based on distrust due to past experiences of agreement breaches," stressing a cautious approach to implementation. He added, "This agreement may offer economic opportunities, but we must beware of external dependence."
Meanwhile, military tensions in the Middle East have not been fully resolved even after the announcement of the agreement. CNN reported that Israel carried out an airstrike on a vehicle in southern Lebanon, killing one person. Israel is said to be maintaining its stance that it will not withdraw from Lebanon regardless of the terms of the agreement involving Iran.
CNN also reported that just before the agreement was announced, President Donald Trump strongly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's military action related to Israel's strike on Beirut. Trump was quoted as saying the attack "should not have happened."
CNN reported that the full text of the MOU is expected to be released within 24–48 hours. A senior U.S. official said, "We adhere to full transparency," announcing the plan to disclose the document.
The agreement is interpreted as a signal of normalized energy shipments and eased Middle East tensions, but the actual implementation and the issue of political trust remain key variables.