Will the US and Iran Reach a Peace Deal?

The United States and Iran have both claimed that they are coming close to a negotiation, but there are questions about how they will reach a deal and what it will include.

The US officially joined the Iran War on February 28, when the US and Israel launched ‘Operation Epic Fury’ on Iran, which led to the death of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In return, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, where one-fifth of global oil and gas pass through, leading to the largest increase in fuel prices since the 1970s. A ceasefire was reached on April 8th although the countries have still been threatening to attack.

On June 7th, the ceasefire broke when Iran launched missiles at northern Israel. US President Donald Trump told the two countries to stop fighting and that peace negotiations were on their way, causing another ceasefire by late Monday afternoon.

Although it was announced that a peace deal was underway, it is clear that the US and Iran have different ideas for it. President Trump expects the Strait of Hormuz to reopen, while Iran seems to plan to keep tight control. Iran’s nuclear program has also raised conflicts; while Iran claims that it is meant for power production only, Western countries suspect that it is being used for making a new nuclear weapon because of the amount of uranium. Other factors that may be a challenge include what to do with Iran’s $25 billion block by sanctions, and how to get the other countries involved in the war to ceasefire.

Major disagreements remain between the US and Iran. Issues such as Iran’s nuclear program, large sanctions, and control over the Strait of Hormuz will be difficult to resolve. While both sides have said the deal is on its way and a ceasefire has been reached, a lasting peace agreement will require many compromises. As a result, a deal is possible, but there are still many problems that could prevent it.