The United Nations has welcomed the peace deal between the U-S and Iran, acknowledging that the agreement represents a critical step towards the peaceful settlement of the conflict. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has distanced his government from the peace deal, saying he respects the decision but will continue to protect his own country's interests by taking action against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The peace deal depends on a ceasefire on all fronts of the war - which includes Lebanon. So how secure is the deal?
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TRANSCRIPT
"This represents a critical step towards the peaceful settlement of the conflict. The Secretary-General expresses his deep appreciation to the constructive role played by Pakistan, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and other regional countries in supporting the negotiations that led to the deal. The Secretary-General hopes that the parties will build on the new momentum and redouble their efforts towards a final resolution to this conflict."
That's UN spokesman Stephan Dujarric, speaking on behalf of Secretary General Antonio Guterres, welcoming the peace deal agreed by the US and Iran.
The details of the deal were revealed on Monday by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, who said negotiations will be held over the coming 60 days, adding that Tehran would retaliate in the event of any breaches to the pact.
The announcement was made on Iranian State Television.
"The United States was forced to sign a memorandum to end the war with the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Resistance Front. Shehbaz Sharif announced the permanent and immediate end of the war on all fronts of the U.S. war against Iran and its allies. The Prime Minister of Pakistan announced that an agreement to end the US war against Iran had been reached."
US President Donald Trump confirmed the deal on social media, authorising the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz and the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade.
The US and Iran are scheduled to sign the peace deal in Switzerland this Friday.
US Vice President JD Vance says the deal could reshape the region if Iran honours its commitments.
“If the Iranians comply with this deal, it is going to fundamentally transform the Middle East for the next 50 years. It's going to end the war. It's going to make the Middle East more investable. It's going to mean a lot of prosperity, lower energy prices for the American people."
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also welcomed the peace deal, but says there is still some way to go before the impacts of months of fighting come to an end.
He says the Australian government will support efforts to secure a lasting agreement to end a war that killed thousands across the Middle East, and sparked a historic energy crisis.
"So whilst we want to see the conflict end - and we hope that has occurred - we also want to be very conscious of the fact that doesn't mean that everything returns to normal in just a day. It will be at a minimum many months before things return to normal. But we do want to give a shout out as well to the efforts to Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and other mediating countries as well."
But the deal hinges on a ceasefire on all fronts of the war.
Before the deal was signed, President Trump was warning Israel not to 'blow the deal' by continuing military action against Iran-supported Hezbollah in Lebanon.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists he will continue to use southern Lebanon as a 'buffer zone', protecting residents in Northern Israel from Hezbollah attacks.
So how secure is the peace deal? Could it still be derailed?
Analyst Laura Bloomenfeld from Johns Hopkins University is a former U-S State Department policy advisor for the Middle East.
She's told the BBC it's not a simple solution to the conflict.
"I wouldn't call this a peace deal. I would say it's more of a hostage deal, because the ransom paid by the United States to lift the blockade, of course, is going to add up to about $8 billion of oil revenues that Iran is going to reap the benefit from over those 60 days while we have extended negotiations with Iran."
She says a lot can happen before the agreement is signed on Friday
"Five days in the Middle East is 50 years anywhere else in the world. Spoilers everywhere. Um, there's going to be some sense, I think, of signers remorse when each side starts to spin things in their favor. Not even so much about the deal, but about the day after the deal. Because after all, this is a struggle beyond just the nuclear issue about who has influence in the region. The revolutionary ideology of the ayatollahs and of Iran has been to, you know, get rid of the the Great Satan, which is the United States from the region. And, of course, America wants to create a kind of, uh, oil happy pot of gold, uh, for the United States. And that that would be in the Gulf as well. So this is about larger things than that. So there'll be some signers remorse."
Israelis from across the political spectrum say the deal is a disaster for Israel and their anger is directed at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak told Israel's public broadcaster Israel is paying the price of Mr Netanyahu's 'hubris and blindness', and the price of the manipulations that he tried to pull on President Trump.
Yair Lapid, who is aiming to unseat Mr Netanyahu at the upcoming elections, says the deal is shaping up to be one of the most 'shocking failures' in Israel's foreign and security policy.
Laura Bloomenfeld isn't surprised at the negative reactions.
'And of course, for Israel, trying to get a few more shots at Lebanon before they might be iced out of the opportunity to take out Hezbollah, because after all, Israel is facing this kind of triple crown of disappointing results from all of their military operations over the past nearly three years. We've got Gaza stuck, Lebanon stuck, and Iran stuck all at a kind of phase one without disarming what they see as their mortal enemies"
G7 leaders are expected to discuss the finer points of a peace deal between the US and Iran at a leaders summit in Evian this week.
European nations have already expressed support for an end to the conflict in the Middle East, but reiterated their priority that Iran not be able to acquire a nuclear weapon.
At a media appearance with French President Emmanuel Macron, Mr Trump said the deal has already been signed, ahead of the official signing ceremony with Iran in Switzerland this Friday.
"And the Strait is already partially opened. As you know, they're doing a little hunting for some mines which they've already found. But ships are already starting and on Friday it will be completely opened."
Though peace may be on the agenda for the first time, it is by no means guaranteed.
