Iran and US reach tentative deal to end war and open Strait of Hormuz 

The United States and Iran say they’ve reached a memorandum of understanding to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz, but significant challenges remain.

Details of the agreement announced Monday in Pakistan have not been released.

The waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman has been closed to most shipping traffic since the end of February, with only limited numbers of vessels friendly to Iran able to pass through.

Leaders around the world are welcoming the announcement that the two countries have reached a tentative agreement.

But Israeli officials say Israel is not bound by those terms and Israeli citizens are not convinced.

In a post on social media U.S. President Donald trump said the deal will bring peace and security to the whole region — and that the reopening of the strait will allow oil to flow throughout the world.

The closure of the critical trade route — that sees roughly a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil pass through it — has led to a global energy crisis.

The straight is expected to reopen with the signing on the non-binding document on Friday, but experts have said that it could take months for energy prices to return to pre-war levels.

Iran’s nuclear capacities was the reason the U.S. launched its first strikes on the Islamic nation in February.

The ‘memorandum of understanding’ will bring a 60-day-long ceasefire, during which time the two parties are meant to hammer out the details for a potential final agreement.