Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has accused Donald Trump of making a deal with Tehran out of “desperation”, as he confirmed his approval of the long-awaited plan.
The supreme leader said he authorised the agreement despite holding a different view, after receiving assurances from president Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials that Iran's rights and the interests of the "Resistance Front" would be safeguarded.
Khamenei, who has not been seen since he was injured in the US-Israeli attacks on 28 February, added that future face-to-face negotiations with the United States would not mean accepting "the enemy's position".
The US military earlier confirmed it had lifted its blockade on Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz, as officials claim millions of barrels are once again flowing through the vital waterway.
The navy will “remain in the general area” to ensure the agreement with Iran is “adhered to, obeyed and in full force and effect”, Centcom said in a statement.
In a press conference earlier on Thursday, vice president JD Vance said 12.5 million barrels of oil had passed through the strait the previous night, and that Iranian forces had not fired on any ships.
Recommended
Read Trump’s 14 point Iran peace deal in full after US announces signing of agreement
Oil prices fall to below $80 as Trump signs US-Iran interim peace deal to end Middle East warTrump knows his deal with Iran is bad. His closing G7 speech made that very clear
‘I’m blaming JD’: Trump jokes at Vance’s expense on what happens if Iran deal doesn’t work out
Iran says it will deliver 'a crushing response' if US acts in 'bad faith'
Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said his country will deliver “a crushing response” if the US acts in “bad faith” during negotiations.
“We are at your command; the task assigned to us by the Supreme Leader is to pursue the realization of the conditions and clauses of the agreement.
“In the event of bad faith, breach of contract, and excessive demands by the opposing side, we have no hesitation in delivering a crushing response to the enemy.
“They were once slapped during the war; if they wish to tread that path again, they will receive an even harder slap”, he wrote on X Thursday.
Maritime security threat in the Strait of Hormuz reduced to 'moderate'
The maritime security threat in the Strait of Hormuz has been reduced to “moderate” following the interim US-Iran peace deal, according to UK officials.
“The maritime security threat level in the SoH has been reduced to MODERATE following the announced intentions by both the United States and Iran for an opening of the waterway.
“However, Mariners should be advised of the existence of mines and expect naval presence as clearance operations continue”, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said in an update Thursday.
Iran's gulf authority to issue fast-tracked authorizations for ships in Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Supreme National Security Council has said that the country's Persian Gulf Strait Authority will look to issue fast authorizations for ships wanting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The move comes as per the memorandum of understanding signed by Tehran and Washington, it said in a statement.
Measures on mine clearance will be carried out under the Islamabad MoU, though ships are advised to stick to the path and timing allocated by the authority, the statement published by state media added.
Trump doesn't take questions from reporters at White House event
President Donald Trump did not take questions from reporters, including one about Iran, when leaving a Model of Honor ceremony at the White House Thursday.
Trump says oil prices are 'dropping like a rock'
President Donald Trump has said oil prices are “dropping like a rock” as he made an interim peace deal with Iran.
“The stock market just hit a new all-time high. The 401K's just hit a new all-time high, and oil is dropping like a rock”, Trump said at a ceremony celebrating recipients of the Medal of Honor, the highest award for US military valor in action.
Watch: JD Vance sends warning to Israel as he defends Trump's Iran deal
Trump urged to include imprisoned British couple in Iran peace deal
The family of a British couple held in Iran are urging Donald Trump to push for a hostage exchange as part of a deal to end the war.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman, from East Sussex, were sentenced to 10 years in Tehran’s Evin prison last year after Iran charged them with espionage during a motorcycle trip around the world. They deny the charges.
The couple have been on hunger strike for 39 and 30 days respectively, fearing “there is no other way to be heard” having effectively been stranded without legal representation, according to the family.
Family of British couple in Tehran prison want loved ones freed under Iran peace deal
Craig and Lindsay Foreman feel “stranded” after they lost an appeal against a 10-year sentence in IranJames Reynolds
Trump says he expects 'complete ceasefire an all fronts' in Iran and Lebanon
We’ve just heard from Donald Trump, who said on Thursday that the United States expects "a complete ceasefire on all fronts," including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel.
"We encourage everyone in the Middle East Region to maintain their commitment to allowing our negotiations to beautifully unfold," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The post came one day after he signed a memorandum of understanding to end a nearly four-month conflict with Iran.
“We encourage everyone in the Middle East Region to maintain their commitment to allowing our negotiations to beautifully unfold,” he added.
“The Markets are loving what is happening with Oil Prices way down, and Stocks way up.”
Iran's supreme leader says Trump made deal out of 'desperation'
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday he had authorised a memorandum of understanding signed by the Iranian and U.S. presidents.
The supreme leader said he himself held a different view, but received assurances from President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials that Iran's rights and the interests of the "Resistance Front" would be safeguarded.
He accused Trump of making the deal out of “desperation”.
In a written message to the Iranian nation, Khamenei said Pezeshkian, in his capacity as head of the Supreme National Security Council, had accepted responsibility for ensuring the agreement protected Iran's interests and pledged not to yield if Washington made what he described as excessive demands.
Khamenei added that future face-to-face negotiations with the United States would not mean accepting "the enemy's position".
What next for Iran after Trump signs ‘disastrous’ deal to end war with $300bn boost and scrapped sanctions
The United States and Iran have signed an interim deal to end their war, setting the table for two months of talks aimed at resolving long-standing disputes.
We look at the main obstacles to a more long-term peace and what happens now the documents have been signed:
What next for Iran after Trump signs ‘disastrous’ deal to end war with $300bn boost
Trump is touting his deal with Iran as a great success. But experts say the US moves into talks after three months of fighting with less leverage and more to loseJames ReynoldsNewerOlder
