Oil tankers return to Hormuz as ceasefire uncertainty persists

[00:00:00]There are mixed reactions on the streets of Tehran as the country wakes up to the news that the Iranian and US presidents have signed an unprecedented agreement.

[00:00:09]A development that would have been unimaginable for many Iranians just a few months ago.

[00:00:14]While many are relieved that the shadow of war has lifted, at least for now, distrust still lingers.

[00:00:21]>> I was happy to hear the news of the agreement because no matter how you look at this, war and tension won't benefit anyone, neither the people nor the ruling system.

[00:00:32]>> I have no hope at all that this agreement will be carried out because America has proven numerous times that it's nothing but a liar.

[00:00:41]>> Iran says it has emerged stronger from the conflict. Officials say they have won the war against two nuclear powers with the United States and Israel failing to achieve any of their stated goals.

[00:00:53]>> The war launched by the US and Israel against Iran began with a set of stated objectives. They declared that they would destroy Iran's defense and military capabilities. They said they would change the political system in Iran and that once they had finished the job, the people would take over. Later on, they even announced a plan to partition Iran, but they failed to achieve any of these objectives.

[00:01:15]>> Iran says it has gained new leverage from the war by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic choke point through which at least 20% of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas passes.

[00:01:28]Tehran says it would retain that leverage even if a final agreement is signed.

[00:01:34]>> During the war, I wrote in a tweet that the Strait of Hormuz will never go back to the way it was before and I still hold that view today.

[00:01:43]That does not mean, however, that we intend to disregard international law or established rules of navigation. On the contrary, our actions will remain fully within the bounds of international law.

[00:01:55]>> Hard guess. The memorandum of understanding ends the war in Iran and Lebanon and lifts the rival blockades imposed by Iran and the United States in the Strait of Hormuz.

[00:02:05]It also includes a general commitment from Iran not to seek a nuclear weapon, but it avoids addressing Iran's uranium enrichment, which has proven to be the most contentious issue between Tehran and Washington. That issue, along with the lifting of US sanctions against Iran, will be negotiated over the next 2 months.

[00:02:24]The sounds of drones and shells have gone. The skies are quiet, but there's still a long road ahead before Iran and the United States can reach a final agreement. With Donald Trump warning he could resume strikes at any time.

[00:02:37]For now, people in the Iranian capital are watching closely to see whether diplomacy can hold.

[00:02:43]Reza Hatami, TRT World, Tehran.