# U.S., Iran begin 60-day negotiations on nuclear deal, Strait reopening  
**Published:** 2026-06-18T18:59:25.000Z  
**Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/18/repub/60-day-clock-starts-for-negotiations-with-iran-over-strait-nuclear-future/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/u-s-iran-begin-60-day-negotiations-on-nuclear-deal-strait-reopening

A 60-day countdown began Thursday for the United States and Iran to negotiate a comprehensive nuclear agreement and resolve disputes over the Strait of Hormuz, following [the signing of a preliminary accord](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/18/repub/60-day-clock-starts-for-negotiations-with-iran-over-strait-nuclear-future/) by President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Vice President JD Vance announced the framework at a White House press conference, describing it as "a win-win situation" for the United States. The agreement immediately halts the conflict that began Feb. 28, which claimed 13 U.S. service members and thousands of civilians across Iran, Lebanon and the Gulf region.

Trump unexpectedly signed the 14-point memorandum of understanding early Thursday morning at the Palace of Versailles during a dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron following the G7 summit. "Just signed it," Trump told journalists after 1 a.m. local time. During the 60-day negotiation period, Iran will allow safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz without tolls, while the U.S. will lift its naval blockade on Iranian oil exports. A final agreement would involve comprehensive sanctions relief and [addressing Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/18/what-the-trump-iran-14-point-plan-says-about-lebanon-hormuz-and-uranium).

Vance noted that [the agreement binds Israel to cease its bombing campaign in Lebanon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025%E2%80%932026_Iran%E2%80%93United_States_negotiations), saying the country must respect the ceasefire like all others. He expressed confidence the administration would not need congressional approval to lift sanctions, though some senators have called for a vote on the deal's terms.

The accord drew criticism from some Republicans. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana called it "the worst foreign policy blunder in decades," arguing Iran learned that threatening the strait "works and will undoubtedly leverage it in the future." He noted that before the war, the strait was open and Iran faced crushing sanctions. "Now, 13 Americans are dead, families have paid billions at the pump, sanctions will be lifted, and the bombing has stopped," Cassidy wrote. Sen. John Kennedy, also a Louisiana Republican, took a more measured view, saying "We ought to give peace a chance" and urging trust in Trump's approach.

Trump posted multiple messages on his social media platform Thursday, touting stock market gains and falling oil prices as signs of success. "Oil is flowing, Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, the stock markets are roaring, jobs are at records, and prices are dropping," he wrote. The accord represents a dramatic shift after months of military conflict that disrupted global energy markets and ravaged civilian infrastructure across the region.

## Sources

- [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/18/repub/60-day-clock-starts-for-negotiations-with-iran-over-strait-nuclear-future/)
- [Al Jazeera breakdown of the 14-point memorandum of understanding](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/18/what-the-trump-iran-14-point-plan-says-about-lebanon-hormuz-and-uranium)
- [Wikipedia entry on 2025-2026 Iran-U.S. negotiations with timeline and key details](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025%E2%80%932026_Iran%E2%80%93United_States_negotiations)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/18/repub/60-day-clock-starts-for-negotiations-with-iran-over-strait-nuclear-future/.