The United States and Iran digitally signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war, and the agreement took effect immediately, Axios reported Thursday night. According to the report, President Donald Trump personally signed a copy during dinner with the French president at the Palace of Versailles, and a photo of the signed document was sent to the Iranians and to the mediators.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed the account, saying the text had been sent for the signatures of the presidents of Iran and the United States. He said, “It was agreed that the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States would be signed digitally. Once this document is approved by the presidents of both countries, any violation of it will be costly.” He also said the original plan for negotiators from both sides to meet for a face-to-face signing ceremony in Geneva or Brussels would not happen, meaning there will be no formal ceremony in Switzerland.
On Wednesday evening, a senior American official disclosed the full 14-point text of the memorandum. It calls for an immediate and permanent end to hostilities, a pledge not to initiate war or use force, and negotiations on a final agreement within 60 days. The two countries also commit to respecting each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The U.S. obligations include lifting the naval blockade within 30 days, pulling forces away from Iran, drafting a reconstruction and economic development plan worth at least $300 billion, ending all sanctions in the final agreement, granting exemptions for Iranian oil exports, and releasing frozen Iranian assets and funds. Iran, for its part, must ensure safe passage for ships in the Gulf for 60 days, reaffirm it will not obtain or develop nuclear weapons, and discuss enriched material and continued nuclear activity through an agreed mechanism. Until a permanent deal is reached, Iran will keep its nuclear program at the status quo, while the U.S. will avoid new sanctions and additional troop deployments. Once key steps begin, exclusive talks on the remaining clauses will start, and the final accord will be approved by a binding UN Security Council resolution.
Israeli officials said the deal is bad because it “releases the pressure too early and cancels the military threat that was on the table until now,” according to Kan News. They also objected to clauses linking developments in Iran and Lebanon, and warned that Trump’s proposal to discuss limits on Iran’s ballistic missile program in a regional framework, meaning Gulf states, would not sufficiently restrain missiles threatening Israel.
