BEIRUT/TEHRAN, June 18 (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Three Saudi-flagged supertankers carrying 6 million barrels of crude oil sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday. The transit occurred hours after U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war that had severely disrupted global energy supplies.
While the agreement brings the immediate opening of the vital waterway and the lifting of a U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, conflict persists elsewhere. In Lebanon, where more than a million people remain displaced, Israeli forces launched fresh airstrikes on Thursday morning. The strikes have cast significant doubt on the reach of the deal and whether President Trump can successfully compel his wartime allies to halt their offensive.
Maritime activity resumes
The signing of the memorandum of understanding brought the deal into effect sooner than previously anticipated. Although industry experts warn that transit levels across the Strait of Hormuz will take time to reach pre-war figures due to the need for mine clearance and safety protocols, the impact was immediate.
Ships that previously concealed their positions by switching off transponders have begun broadcasting their locations once again. Consequently, benchmark Brent crude futures prices fell by another 2% to below $78 a barrel, reaching their lowest point since the conflict began.
The document signed by the two leaders triggers a 60-day negotiation period aimed at achieving a final settlement. When President Trump initiated the war in February alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the original stated goals included the destruction of Iran’s nuclear program and the curtailing of its regional influence. However, the current agreement includes none of these objectives, leading to criticism from some American political hawks who argue Iran is now in a stronger position.
Escalation in Lebanon continues
Despite the diplomatic progress in the Gulf, the situation in Lebanon remains volatile. Israel, which began an invasion in March, was excluded from the U.S.-Iran negotiations. The memorandum explicitly calls for the permanent termination of the war in Lebanon and for its territorial integrity to be ensured.
“Iran and the Americans are done. Fine. In Lebanon it’s not over yet,” said Mohammed Doghman, a man displaced from the southern city of Nabatieh to Beirut.
Israeli officials have stated that the nation has no intention of withdrawing from Lebanon regardless of the negotiations. On Thursday, the military released a map showing an expanded southern area occupied by its troops, which officials described as a buffer zone.
The Lebanese state news agency reported that three people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on the towns of Kfartebnit and Zebdine. Reuters reporters also observed an Israeli drone flying low over Beirut and its southern suburbs on Thursday.
Rift between Washington and Israel
The divergence between the U.S. and Israeli positions has created a notable rift in their bilateral relations. While President Trump has recently criticized Israeli operations, characterizing them as unnecessarily destructive, senior Israeli officials have described their ongoing talks with Washington as stubborn.
The current diplomatic reality leaves Israel in a difficult position as it navigates its military objectives. Political analysts suggest the country may soon be forced to choose between maintaining intense military pressure at the cost of U.S. support, or aligning with the diplomatic path favored by Washington to bring an end to the conflict.
