Iranians Skeptical of Peace Deal with US

Tehran, Iran – The international community breathed a sigh of relief when the US and Iran announced a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending nearly four months of fighting on Sunday. But on the streets of Tehran – where residents are exhausted from years of sanctions and tension – the ceasefire announcement has not been enough to convince them the crisis is over.

The deal, expected to be signed on Friday, will reopen the Strait of Hormuz – largely controlled by Iran since war erupted on February 28. This is expected to stabilize volatile energy markets. In return, the US will lift its naval blockade of southern Iranian ports, which has strangled the country's already struggling economy.

Many crucial and sensitive issues remain unresolved, such as the future of Iran's nuclear program, US sanctions, and Tehran's frozen assets. These issues could be postponed, leading many Iranians to be pessimistic that a long-term solution will ever be reached.

“I think this deal does not bring big benefits for the people because it will not be fully implemented to bring any stability to our lives,” said Parisa, a university student in Tehran who gave only her first name for security reasons. “It might work now, but both sides will break it based on their own interests.”

Another resident of the capital, Mehdi, said he is not optimistic the ceasefire will last due to so many unresolved disagreements. “I don't think the US is ready to accept even the smallest demand from Iran,” he said.

Iranians say that before a long-term deal is reached, the crippling US and UN sanctions – which have made Iran poorer and isolated its businesses from global markets – must be lifted. There is also the issue of Tehran's billions of dollars in frozen assets abroad and its demand for ship passage fees through the Strait of Hormuz. The US and most other nations insist on the right of free navigation through the waterway.

The memorandum was reached despite recent gunfire exchanges between Iran and the US, and opposition from Israel. Israel's bombing of Beirut's southern suburbs on Sunday – a red line for Tehran – threatened to disrupt the deal and push the region back into conflict.

The preliminary details of the agreement have also been hindered by the stance of hardliners in Iran, who want the government to take a stronger position in negotiations and are ready to criticize any concessions.

Iran delayed announcing the deal until after midnight local time on Monday, apparently to avoid the news falling on US President Donald Trump's birthday on Sunday. However, time zone differences with the US still allowed Washington to announce the deal on Sunday, as Trump had promised.

On Monday at Valiasr Square in central Tehran, authorities unveiled a giant black mural depicting the late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is expected to be buried in July and often called for vigilance toward the US.

At night-time gatherings of pro-state forces in squares and streets across the country, many lamented Iran's failure to avenge Khamenei's death on February 28, and opposed any concessions to Washington. Some harshly criticized the negotiating team and security officials.

Others believe the coming months will see continued war, so Tehran must maintain the advantage it gained after more than 100 days of conflict with the US and Israel. “In my opinion, this deal will not last; the US will violate it again. It's better for us to maintain our stance, for example, by continuing to close the Strait of Hormuz and not allowing it to reopen,” a pro-government woman named Mohadese told Al Jazeera.

The deal also includes a halt to military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon – a point Tehran insisted be included. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, promised on Sunday evening that “the response of Islamic fighters is ready” after Israel targeted Beirut. But hours later, the top decision-making body confirmed the deal with the US, and no retaliation occurred.

Iranian media reported that Trump agreed to lift the naval blockade immediately, instead of within 30 days as previously negotiated, in exchange for Iran halting planned retaliatory strikes against Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing criticism from the opposition, who see the deal as a failure for the country. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel has no plans to withdraw its occupying forces from Lebanon, Syria, or the Gaza Strip, and would respond forcefully if Iran attacks.

The official text of the Iran-US deal has not been released, but both sides have tried to claim the agreement as their victory. Iran's state television, when announcing the deal, declared: “The US was forced to sign the memorandum to end the war with the Islamic Republic and the axis of resistance.”

Meanwhile, Iranian markets have welcomed the prospect of an end to direct hostilities and potential benefits from the lifting of the US blockade on imports. The rial strengthened on Monday for the third consecutive day since the start of Iran's work week, trading at about 1.61 million to the US dollar. The currency had hit a record low of about 1.9 million last month.

Gold prices in Tehran also continued to fall on Monday, while the stock market continued to rise, with the Tehran Stock Exchange index reaching nearly 5 million points by closing. Hope that lifting the siege of Iranian ports, removing sanctions, and freeing assets will revive the economy, but this depends on countless factors, many of which are beyond Tehran's control.