The United States will allow Iran to sell oil and fuel immediately once the deal to end the war is signed, according to officials cited Tuesday by The Wall Street Journal. The reported arrangement would also grant sanctions waivers for related services needed to complete sales, including banking, transportation, and insurance. A source quoted by Reuters added that Iran could begin selling oil right after signing only if it fulfills all agreed terms, including not obstructing free shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and not obtaining nuclear weapons.
President Donald Trump discussed the agreement at the G7 summit in France, saying, "This should be a successful deal, it is moving to phase two, which should be easier." He said the U.S. is not investing any American dollars in Iran and insisted, "Iran will not have a nuclear weapon." Trump added that if Iran gets a bomb, "all hell will break loose," and claimed, "If it were not for me, Israel would not exist today." He also said, "I never cared about regime change," but suggested the top levels of Iran's leadership had already been destroyed.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded that ending the war also means ending the occupation. He said the war cannot truly end without Israeli forces withdrawing from the territories they captured in this war, and warned that any further Israeli military action in Lebanon or continued occupation there would violate the memorandum of understanding.
Axios reported that CIA chief John Ratcliffe had warned Trump there was serious doubt about Iran's willingness to meet U.S. nuclear demands. According to three sources, the concerns were based on intelligence findings, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared similar reservations. Their view contrasted with support from Vice President J.D. Vance, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and adviser Jared Kushner. Israeli officials were said to be shocked and furious, calling the deal "shocking," and the formal signing is set for Friday in Geneva. A senior U.S. official also said the deal does not require an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and preserves Israel's right to self-defense against Hezbollah.
