Russia's state media claims US-Iran truce deal reached, including Strait of Hormuz passage

Russia's state media abruptly reported that the United States and Iran have reached a truce agreement — just one day after Washington declared an "economic war" aimed at cutting off Iran's financial lifelines. The reported deal includes free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. Neither the US nor Iranian government has officially confirmed the agreement, leaving significant uncertainty over whether a deal has actually been reached.

RIA Novosti, Russia's state news agency, reported Tuesday (local time), citing Pakistani military sources and Iranian security sources, that "a truce agreement has been reached, including free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz." The sources said an announcement was expected within days. International oil prices fell immediately after the report was published.

RIA Novosti did not disclose the specific terms of the reported truce. The identities of the sources and the extent of their involvement in the negotiations were not confirmed. Neither the US nor Iranian government has officially announced any agreement.

The report has drawn attention because it comes as Pakistan's mediation efforts have visibly intensified in recent days.

Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Gen. Asim Munir visited Tehran on Monday and met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior Iranian officials. Pakistan said afterward that "significant progress" had been made in negotiations with Iran. The discussions covered preventing further escalation of the war, bringing an early end to hostilities, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Reports that Munir had been in contact with President Donald Trump's team before his Tehran visit have fueled speculation that Pakistan may once again be serving as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran.

Separate negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz are also under way. Iran and Oman have been discussing temporary shipping lanes and mine-clearing measures to ensure safe passage for vessels. Iran has nonetheless maintained that it will not fully reopen the strait without linking such a move to conditions such as the lifting of US sanctions.

Washington, meanwhile, has been ratcheting up economic pressure on Tehran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that third countries maintaining financial or commercial ties with Iran could face sanctions, as the US pushes to deepen Iran's economic isolation. Iran has pushed back, vowing not to yield to US sanctions.

If the truce agreement reported by RIA Novosti has in fact been concluded, it would mark a dramatic reversal in US-Iran relations, which had been heading in the opposite direction until just recently.

Major international news outlets, however, have so far placed greater weight on the idea that mediation talks are ongoing rather than that a truce has been finalized. While Pakistan said significant progress was made in the Tehran negotiations, the US government has not issued any official statement on the matter.