The 8 unresolved questions in Trump's Iran deal (axios.com)

The U.S.-Iran deal was signed electronically on Sunday by President Trump , Vice President JD Vance and Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, senior administration officials told reporters on Monday. Why it matters: The deal is already testing whether Washington and Tehran can turn a battlefield pause into a broader settlement — starting with the Strait of Hormuz and then moving to the far thornier question of Iran's nuclear program. State of play: A 60-day ceasefire extension is in effect, U.S. officials say, including in Lebanon. But the Strait of Hormuz is not expected to begin reopening until after a formal signing ceremony Friday in Geneva. Vance, U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Ghalibaf, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are expected to meet Friday with Pakistani and Qatari mediators to discuss the next phase. U.S. officials say the full text of the memorandum of understanding will be released in the next 24–48 hours, though Trump said it might not be published until after it's signed. The big picture: Washington and Tehran are racing to shape the narrative around a deal that few people have actually read, but which markets, world leaders and ordinary citizens are already reacting to. The U.S. says relief for Iran will be tied to performance. Iranian state media has described a more generous package. Shipping companies say they're waiting for clearer guarantees from Tehran before sending cargo through the Strait of Hormuz. Hawks in Washington and Israel are pressing the White House to explain exactly what Iran is getting — and what happens if nuclear talks fail. Breaking it down: Here are eight key questions that are still swirling around the deal. 1. Is the deal actually in effect? The MOU was signed electronically on Sunday, with a more formal signing ceremony to be held on Friday in Switzerland. The 60-day extension of the ceasefire took immediate effect, but the strait is not yet fully open. While Trump announced the "immediate" lifting of the U.S. blockade and opening of the strait on Sunday, he later said it would open on Friday once the ceremony takes place. A U.S. defense official said the military was ordered to prepare to lift the blockade Friday. Trump claimed Monday that ships were already moving, though Iranian state media said the status of the strait was unchanged. 2. Will the strait be truly open? The U.S. side has consistently said the deal would open the strait without tolls or any other restrictions. A regional diplomat involved in the mediation told Axios last week that the deal called for shipping volumes through the strait to return to prewar levels within 30 days. But Iranian officials have told state media the strait won't simply return to "pre-war status," and that Iran will retain some level of control. The Fars news agency reported that Iran had agreed not to impose tolls during the 60 days, but would begin charging safety and environmental fees after that. The intrigue: A