What was supposed to be a ceremonial G7 dinner in France turned into a last-minute diplomatic scramble when U.S. President Donald Trump announced he wanted to sign the U.S.-Iran agreement immediately, that same evening. According to CNN and AP, the surprise came on Wednesday during a formal dinner at the Palace of Versailles, startling host Emmanuel Macron and senior aides. The White House had originally planned an official signing ceremony two days later at a luxury resort overlooking Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, where Vice President JD Vance was expected to sign the memorandum of understanding and open the next round of technical talks with Iran.
After three days of intense G7 discussions, Trump thanked the guests for the dinner and the summit, then said, as French Finance Minister Roland Lescure later recounted to RTL, that he had “a good deal with Iran” and would sign it. CNN reported that Trump insisted the agreement take effect immediately and pushed to finalize it that night. Macron replied that it could be arranged quickly, and as the two walked through Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors, staff began working behind the scenes.
A French official told AP that around 11 p.m., U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio received word that the deal had been finalized. Rubio and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot left the room to review the text of the memorandum. CNN said they then searched for a printer to produce the document. The agreement was printed in English and Persian and brought for Trump’s signature.
Lescure said the French ministers were completely caught off guard, recalling that Rubio left the room and later returned as staff cleared the plates. Trump then sat at a long table in the lower gallery of the palace, signed the printed agreement, and told the diners, including Wall Street executives and French corporate leaders, “It was not easy, I can tell you.” He held up the signed document for the guests, Macron praised him, saying, “Good work. Bravo,” and one attendee reportedly photographed the document and sent the image to Iran.
