Ghalibaf says Iran took major step toward victory

The United States secretly approved a financial and maritime arrangement between Qatar and Iran under which billions of dollars were paid to Tehran in exchange for free passage for Qatari tankers and ships through the Strait of Hormuz, Israel Hayom reported, citing three diplomatic officials.

The report said the secret US approval was granted about a month ago and aligned with Doha’s interest in opening a direct channel of communication with Tehran, which began to tighten after the ceasefire.

Qatar sought to buy security quiet, fearing a renewed Iranian attack on its facilities after one of its gas installations was attacked during the war, the report said.

While the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia were hit by missile and drone attacks after the ceasefire, Qatar assisted Iran financially and remained protected, the report added.

As part of the arrangement, Iran demanded access to part of its deposits held in Qatar, while some payments were disguised as fees for tankers passing through Hormuz, the report said.

The report added that a broad credit line of up to $1 billion was opened for the purchase of goods through Qatar.

The memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran has been signed by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Reuters reported on Monday, citing a senior US official.

The official said details of the agreement would be released within the next 24 to 48 hours and that technical discussions would be launched later this week.

The official added that relief of frozen funds and sanctions relief would be tied to performance.

The senior US official said the US understanding was that Ghalibaf had been authorized by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to sign the agreement and negotiate.

The official added that Washington was prepared to release frozen funds and provide sanctions relief, adding that the US may make some small gestures at the beginning of the process.

The official said Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon was not a condition of the deal and that Israel would have the right to defend itself from Hezbollah attacks.

The heads of the Iranian and US delegations will likely meet in Switzerland on Friday, where the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States will be signed, followed by the first round of subsequent negotiations, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said.

Araghchi added that Iran’s economy should not make itself dependent on or tied to such economic agreements through negotiations with the United States.

He said the negotiation process and implementation of the agreement would be planned based on “distrust, broken promises and past experiences.”

A US blockade of Iranian ports remains in effect pending completion of a ceasefire agreement with Iran scheduled for June 19, the US military said in an advisory note on Monday.

“A military blockade of Iranian ports remains in effect restricting all traffic inbound and outbound from these ports,” the advisory said.

“Do not attempt to cross until explicit direction is given,” it added.

President Emmanuel Macron said France and the United Kingdom were ready to lead a multinational mission to help reopen and ensure safety in the Strait of Hormuz if the US-Iran agreement holds.

In an interview with French broadcaster TF1, Macron said France would be ready to send planes, a frigate, deminers and the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.

He said the forces would be ready for deployment in the next two or three days so the reopening of Hormuz "can be done in a peaceful way that it lasts."