Amna Nawaz:

Welcome to the "News Hour."

The U.S. announced today that it's lifting the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to let ships pass through. Sea traffic there has been at a standstill since nearly the start of the war. And Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, blessed the deal with the U.S., saying it was -- quote -- "desperation" that drove President Trump to the bargaining table.

Liz Landers begins our coverage again tonight.

J.D. Vance, Vice President of the United States: First of all, I think the president's peace plan in Iran is already bearing real fruits for the American people.

Liz Landers:

Vice President J.D. Vance, a self-professed skeptic of foreign wars, is now the face of President Donald Trump's tentative agreement to end the war with Iran.

J.D. Vance:

Their economy is in absolute dire straits. But in order for them to get any integration into the world economy, they're going to have to show us and verify for us that they are changing their behavior. And that's why the deal is set up in the way that it is.

Liz Landers:

The 14-point memorandum of understanding opens the Strait of Hormuz, with the U.S. ending the naval blockade and Iran ensuring prewar ship movement for 60 days, while lifting sanctions immediately on Iranian oil and petroleum products.

It also sets up future talks on the nuclear ambitions of the country, while forcing the Iranian regime to downblend their highly enriched uranium. The agreement was read to reporters yesterday. The White House has yet to release the text.

The United Nations nuclear watchdog welcomed the interim agreement today. Director-General Rafael Grossi said his agency would be involved in technical discussions to implement the agreement.

Rafael Grossi, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency:

And now it's for us to sit down with our American colleagues, our Iranian colleagues, and start formulating the concrete steps that will have to be taken.

Liz Landers:

In Tehran today, some Iranians reacted with skepticism and pessimism about the newly signed deal.

Farideh Hajian, Tehran, Iran, Resident (through interpreter):

I have no hope at all that this agreement will be carried out, because America has proven numerous times that it's nothing but a liar.

Liz Landers:

A sentiment echoed by Israelis today.

Ohad Buber, Tel Aviv, Israel, Resident:

I honestly don't know much about it. I just know that it doesn't stop the war and it doesn't stop the hate. And it sucks for me, because I really believed in Trump and I believed that he would end the war.

Liz Landers:

But Israel and Hezbollah, neither a party to the agreement, presented potential stumbling block on the ground in Lebanon. The memorandum of understanding says that Lebanon is included in the cease-fire. But today's attacks killed at least three people in Southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon's state news agency.

Iran has said continued Israeli attacks would breach the agreement. The angry denunciations of the deal from Israeli leaders drew unusually sharp criticism from Vice President Vance.

J.D. Vance:

If I was in the Cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world.

Liz Landers:

More shifting rhetoric on one of America's strongest allies that reflects a White House where broader messaging is apparently malleable.

In February, the day the war began, President Trump's view on Iran's missiles was clear.

President Donald Trump:

We're going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally again obliterated.

Liz Landers:

And then just yesterday:

Donald Trump:

I'm saying that if other countries have them, it's a little bit unfair for them not to have some.

Liz Landers:

In March, the president originally suggested that regime change was an objective and the Iranian people could take control of their government.

Donald Trump:

But we have had regime change if you look already. We're dealing with different people than anybody's dealt with before. It's a whole different group of people. So I would consider that regime change.

Liz Landers:

But on Tuesday, he said:

Donald Trump:

Now, you talk about regime change. I never cared about regime change. It's never a part.

Liz Landers:

And the administration has lowered expectations about what happens to the Iranian stockpile of highly enriched uranium, initially saying:

Donald Trump:

We have to take that -- I call it the nuclear dust, right? But we have to take that nuclear dust. We're going to take it. And that's part of our negotiation with Iran.

Liz Landers:

But the agreement only stipulates that Iran must downblend the material on site, pending broader negotiations.

J.D. Vance:

They have promised not to enrich. They have promised that they would allow inspectors in to destroy that highly enriched stockpile. And then, of course, it's not usable anymore. You take it somewhere else.

Liz Landers:

This afternoon, the president made sure to tout the stock market, saying:

Donald Trump:

The stock market just hit a new all-time high. The 401(k)s just hit a new all-time high. And oil is dropping like a rock. Other than that, it's another day in paradise.

Liz Landers:

Meantime, Vance was expected to attend a signing ceremony with the Iranians in Switzerland on Friday, but told reporters today that timing may slide into the weekend.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Liz Landers.