Gold holds gains above $4,300 as US and Iran prepare to sign interim peace deal
The 14-point framework agreement could unlock $25 billion in frozen Iranian assets and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but gold isn't budging from its highs just yet.
Gold climbed over 2% on June 15 and pushed past $4,300 per ounce, hitting weekly highs even as the US and Iran announced a 14-point interim peace framework.
What’s in the deal
The memorandum of understanding, announced around June 15, covers 14 points designed to extend the current ceasefire between the two nations. The conflict has lasted nearly four months, punctuated by a US naval blockade on Iranian ports that rattled global shipping lanes.
The centerpiece: reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes on any given day.
Beyond the immediate ceasefire extension, the framework sets the stage for further discussions on Iran’s nuclear program, potential sanctions relief, and the release of approximately $25 billion in frozen Iranian assets.
A formal signing ceremony is scheduled for June 19 in Geneva. The US delegation is expected to include Vice President JD Vance, with reports suggesting President Trump may also attend. Iran’s side will feature Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who played a key mediation role throughout the negotiations, is also set to participate.
The agreement also encompasses provisions related to Lebanon, folding a broader regional ceasefire into the framework.
This is a 60-day framework, not a permanent peace accord.
Why gold isn’t flinching
Gold rose over 2% on the announcement day and held above $4,300 per ounce.
What this means for investors
Energy is the most obvious beneficiary if the Strait of Hormuz reopens fully. The blockade created a supply bottleneck that pushed oil prices higher and injected volatility into energy markets for months.
For gold specifically, investors should watch the June 19 signing ceremony closely. If gold holds above $4,300 even after the signing, that’s a signal the bid is structural, not just geopolitical.
The $25 billion in frozen assets is worth tracking as a leading indicator of deal seriousness. Any movement on unfreezing those funds would signal that both sides view the framework as more than a temporary ceasefire.