18/06/26, US & IRAN Deal

 The White House has confirmed that US President Donald Trump signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) intended to bring an end to the conflict involving Iran, with a White House official telling Reuters that Trump had formally endorsed the agreement.

Trump put his signature to the memorandum of understanding during dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles following a G7 summit, a US official told AFP.

Trump told reporters the MoU with Iran had been completed and signed at the Palace of Versailles in Paris. Speaking as he departed Versailles, Trump said, “It's signed,” before adding, “I signed it in Versailles,” and later reiterating, “Just signed it.”

Iran also announced on Thursday that the accord with Washington had been concluded. According to Iranian state news agency IRNA, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said, "The text of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding was finalised with the signatures of the presidents -- now it is time to test the implementation of the agreement."

Baqaei stated that the document was signed electronically by the presidents of both countries and explained that a formal ceremony was not considered necessary from Tehran's perspective. He remarked, "When the text is signed by the highest officials of the two countries, violating it will naturally have greater costs, and given our experiences, we preferred this to happen."

His comments came after Swiss authorities had indicated that a signing event would take place on Friday at a luxury mountain hotel overlooking Lake Lucerne. The planned gathering was expected to include Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and US Vice President JD Vance.

Providing additional details to Iranian media, Baqaei said negotiating delegations are still expected to meet in Geneva, but the remote execution of the document means no in-person signing ceremony will take place in Switzerland.

He noted that the US naval blockade imposed on Iranian ports had originally been scheduled to end within 30 days in return for Iranian transit concessions in the Strait of Hormuz. However, following what he described as an attack by the "Zionist regime" on Dahiyeh and subsequent Iranian warnings, urgent discussions resulted in Washington moving more quickly than originally planned. According to Baqaei, Iranian vessels are already entering and departing ports without interruption.

He added that Iran's obligations under the agreement will officially begin now that the memorandum has been signed.

Baqaei also said that for Tehran, ending the war in Lebanon and securing a ceasefire carried equal importance to Iranian domestic interests. He stated that Lebanon is referenced three times in the opening clause of the MoU and that the agreement explicitly requires respect for Lebanese territorial integrity and sovereignty.

According to the spokesman, Iran deliberately limited the first phase of negotiations to ending the conflict, while leaving nuclear issues for later discussions. The signed text establishes a strict 60-day negotiating period beginning immediately to address Iran's nuclear programme and sanctions relief, with the possibility of an extension if needed.

He further stressed that Iran's military capabilities are excluded from the process, saying the country's missile arsenal would not be discussed. Baqaei stated that Iran's missiles are only for being fired and not for negotiation, adding that Tehran would not place its defence assets on the agenda with any party.

Speaking separately to Press TV, Baqaei confirmed that the memorandum had been formally endorsed by both sides through electronic signatures.

Meanwhile, Ghalibaf signalled continued distrust of Washington despite progress toward the agreement. According to comments carried by Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, he said, "My pessimism and distrust of America is the greatest. Even if the agreement is final and it is approved by the Security Council resolution, it is still not trustworthy at all."

Referring to the strategic waterway linking the Gulf to global markets, Ghalibaf declared, "The US has made the potential of the Strait of Hormuz a reality for us." He added, "Iran has sovereign rights in the Strait of Hormuz, and naturally, we will charge for the services."

He also warned that Iran remained prepared if tensions escalated, stating, "The distance between me and the field of diplomatic struggle is not far from the field of military struggle, and our hand is on the trigger."

Before departing the G7 summit, Trump said the memorandum was effectively complete and could be formalised within 48 hours. "It's in final form," he said, adding that it would be signed "within 48 hours".

Asked where the signing would occur, Trump replied, "We haven't determined yet." He also downplayed the significance of the 60-day timetable, saying, "Just as long as they're behaving, I really don't care that much."

When questioned about the possibility of future military action, Trump said, "If they don't come through, is it a threat that we bomb? You can call it whatever you want, but it'll probably happen."

The US president also indicated that American forces would remain in the Gulf region for the foreseeable future. "Probably a while," he said. "I'd say a little while, see how it all goes."

Baqaei additionally announced that Tehran and Muscat had agreed to create a framework for managing the Strait of Hormuz. According to Tasnim, the two countries would "develop a management mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz" and would "cooperate and consult with other regional countries wherever necessary".

He said maritime traffic would gradually return to normal, explaining, "Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, it has been agreed that maritime traffic will be returned to normal within a specified time." He added, "This is our own responsibility, and only we will carry it out; there will be no need for participation or intervention from other parties."

Baqaei said plans for talks in Geneva remained unchanged and noted that Tehran had been considering whether the presidents of Iran and the United States should personally sign the agreement. Earlier indications suggested Ghalibaf would represent Iran while Vance would attend on behalf of Washington.

At the G7 gathering, Trump repeated that the arrangement would be completed soon, saying, "The deal we reached with Iran on Sunday will be signed shortly, tomorrow (Thursday), maybe the next day (Friday)." He added, "We are going to most likely sign a deal."

Senior US officials subsequently released what they described as the text of the memorandum. The document contains provisions concerning Iran's enriched uranium stockpile, sanctions relief, oil exports and a reconstruction and economic development initiative valued at no less than $300 billion.

According to US officials, Tehran agreed to dilute its enriched uranium reserves. One official said, "The fact that they're conceding to that is a major, major win for the United States of America."

Officials said the arrangement would involve at minimum "down blending on site under the supervision of the IAEA", reducing enrichment levels and radioactivity by combining highly enriched uranium with depleted uranium. A senior official stated, "They're saying we will destroy the enriched stockpile, and this is how we're going to do it at a minimum."

The agreement provides for a 60-day period of negotiations aimed at achieving a broader settlement. Iranian oil exports would resume after the accord is signed and the Strait of Hormuz reopens, while wider sanctions relief would depend on a comprehensive agreement being reached.

The text also outlines a reconstruction and economic development package worth at least $300 billion following the war launched by Israel and the United States on February 29. It states that Washington "undertakes with regional partners to develop a definitive mutually agreed plan with at least $300 billion for the reconstruction and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran".

US officials emphasised that the wording does not obligate direct American financial contributions. One official said, "Note that it doesn't require us to do anything...to ever pay a cent of money to the Iranians, to ever contribute money to this reconstruction fund." The official added, "What it says is that if we get to a final deal and if the Iranians behave, we will permit the sanctions relief that would allow, for example, the Emiratis to build a power plant in Iran."

Officials also said Iran had already begun relaxing restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and confirmed that sanctions relief would start once the memorandum formally takes effect. Negotiations scheduled in Switzerland are expected to focus initially on nuclear issues, with discussions regarding regional proxy groups and missile programmes planned for a later stage.

Trump again warned of possible military action, saying, "If they are not behaving they will be hit again. They don't want to get bombed, they don't want to get hit."

US officials said Israel had received a copy of the agreement. The draft additionally includes provisions concerning Lebanon's territorial integrity following Israel's invasion and guarantees toll-free passage through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days, while leaving open the possibility that transit charges could be imposed afterwards.

Source:Network18