US and Iran Discuss Advancing Signing of Understanding to Tonight

The United States, Iran and the mediators are discussing moving up the signing of a memorandum of understanding that is currently set for Friday, possibly to Wednesday night, according to a diplomat from one of the mediating countries and another source familiar with the details. If that happens, the document would be signed electronically, the clauses dealing with the Strait of Hormuz would take effect, and Washington may finally publish the agreement text.

The diplomat said the talks are intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz earlier than Friday, especially because all sides already agree on that issue. Another factor is political pressure on the White House to release the memorandum’s wording. The informed source said Iran insisted that the text not be published before the formal signing, and rejected the claim that the White House is acting because of political pressure. As of Wednesday evening, no final decision had been made on changing the signing date.

Despite the possible change, the planned meeting between the American and Iranian delegations, led by Vice President Vance and Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, is still expected to take place Friday in Switzerland to discuss opening negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, the sources said.

A U.S. administration official told reporters that the agreement had already been signed electronically on Sunday by President Donald Trump, Vice President Vance and Qalibaf. The diplomat disputed that such a signing took place, while the informed source said it did happen but would now count as a “second signing.” It is unclear why two signings were needed. The White House has said since Sunday that reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the U.S. blockade would begin only after Friday’s formal signing, and the diplomat said an earlier signing would move those steps up too. The White House declined to comment.