U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Draws Domestic Scrutiny as Hormuz Reopens

The Trump administration's recently announced two-week ceasefire with Iran has triggered a surge in global markets and Treasuries as the Strait of Hormuz officially reopens to maritime traffic. Under the terms of the pause in hostilities, Iran and Oman will charge fees to vessels transiting the critical waterway. While White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt characterized the reopening as a 'victory' achieved through U.S. military leverage, the deal has faced immediate pushback from domestic critics. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has called for an urgent congressional review to clarify the specific terms of the agreement, amid concerns from some analysts that the administration has accepted Iranian-defined parameters for an exit from the conflict. Former officials have argued that the two-month conflict may have left Tehran in a stronger position, despite President Trump's previous threats against Iranian infrastructure. In Tehran, state-run media outlets are framing the ceasefire as a 'retreat' and a 'withdrawal' by President Trump. The truce, which notably excludes operations in Lebanon, is seen as a precursor to the 'Islamabad Talks' scheduled for Friday. These Pakistan-mediated negotiations represent the next phase of diplomatic efforts to seek a long-term resolution to the regional instability that has persisted for over a month.