Politics
Politics Saudi Arabia
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Saudi Arabia Welcomes US-Iran Ceasefire Agreement as Strait of Hormuz Reopening and Nuclear Commitments Take Center Stage.

Lead:

A significant diplomatic development is reshaping the Middle East's security landscape following the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran. Saudi Arabia's Council of Ministers, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, formally welcomed the accord, which includes Iran's commitment to forgo nuclear weapons and a phased reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The agreement, expected to be signed Friday at Burgenstock, Switzerland, has drawn wide regional and international attention.

Details:

According to Al-Watan and Al-Jazirah, President Donald Trump confirmed on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France that the memorandum of understanding with Iran explicitly stipulates that Tehran will not acquire or develop nuclear weapons. Trump further stated that the Strait of Hormuz would be fully operational by Friday and that the full text of the agreement would be published within two days. US Vice President JD Vance separately confirmed that Iran had provided Washington with a firm and unequivocal commitment against nuclear weapons development or acquisition, as reported by Al-Yaum.

Al-Jazirah reports that Swiss authorities announced the provisional agreement could be formally signed at Burgenstock on Friday, positioning Switzerland as the diplomatic venue for a landmark de-escalation between Washington and Tehran. In a parallel development, two Iranian oil tankers were reported by Al-Yaum to have transited the American blockade zone in the Strait of Hormuz, while the US Navy simultaneously issued updated navigation guidance for vessels preparing to resume transit through the strait.

On the Saudi-Iranian diplomatic front, Al-Newsd reports that Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a phone call from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during which both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to pursuing regional stability. Saudi Arabia also used the occasion of a bilateral meeting in Lisbon between Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Portuguese counterpart to jointly welcome the US-Iran accord, according to Al-Jazirah.

Separately, Al-Watan reports that the Yemeni government has formally petitioned the UN Security Council to impose targeted sanctions on Eidrous Al-Zubaidi and associates, accusing them of high treason, obstruction of the political process, and forming armed militias — a development that adds a further layer of complexity to regional peace efforts.

Watch For:

  • Whether the formal signing ceremony at Burgenstock proceeds as scheduled on Friday and whether all parties endorse the published text without reservation.
  • How Iran's transit activity through the Strait of Hormuz evolves before and after the agreement's formal conclusion, and whether the US Navy's updated guidance translates into normalized commercial shipping.
  • The UN Security Council's response to Yemen's formal sanctions request against Al-Zubaidi, and its potential impact on ongoing Yemeni peace negotiations.
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