Vice President JD Vance (R-OH) held a White House press briefing Thursday at 11 a.m. [1, 2] regarding a new U.S. peace agreement with Iran.
The deal aims to end the conflict between the two nations and ensure the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane. This agreement follows a period of instability and conflicting reports regarding the stability of previous cease-fire arrangements.
During the briefing on June 18, 2026 [2], Vance discussed the terms of the memorandum of understanding. The agreement is designed to extend the existing cease-fire and formally end the war [3, 5]. According to the terms, the Strait of Hormuz is expected to be completely open by Friday, June 19, 2026 [4].
Reports regarding the signing of the document vary. Some sources said that President Donald Trump (R-FL) signed the memorandum of understanding at the Palace of Versailles in France [2]. Other reports said that Trump, Vance, and Mohammad Ghalibaf signed the agreement electronically [3].
President Trump previously expressed skepticism regarding Iranian compliance. On April 21, 2026, Trump said that Iran violated the cease-fire "numerous times" [6]. However, in a more recent statement on June 17, 2026, Trump said, "Hormuz will be completely open" [4].
The briefing at the White House served to inform the public and the press about the diplomatic breakthrough [1, 2]. While some reports suggested Vance was scheduled to depart for further negotiations, the administration utilized the session to solidify the announcement of the deal [1, 2].
The agreement represents a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy toward Iran, prioritizing the restoration of maritime trade, and the cessation of active hostilities in the region [3, 5].
“"Hormuz will be completely open"”
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is a critical economic objective, as the waterway is a primary transit point for global oil supplies. By securing a formal peace agreement and an extended cease-fire, the U.S. administration seeks to stabilize energy markets and reduce the risk of a direct military escalation with Iran, despite a history of alleged cease-fire violations.
