Washington: US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have formally signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to end the months-long war between the two countries. According to US and Iranian officials, the presidents of both countries signed the MoU on Wednesday.
What did the official say?
According to a US official, President Trump officially signed the hard copy of the US-Iran agreement during dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles in France. Copies of the signed agreement have been sent to Iran and the mediating countries. E
Earlier on Sunday, US Vice President JD Vance and Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, signed the MoU digitally.
US officials said that with the signing of the MoU, the conflict that had been going on between the two countries for almost four months has ended.
What did Donald Trump say?
As Donald Trump left Versailles on Wednesday night, after a dinner in honor of the 250th anniversary of American independence, he told reporters waiting outside that he had signed the memorandum of understanding with Iran.
Donald Trump said that the agreement was finalised while he was attending a dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron.
“It’s signed, yeah,” Trump said. “We signed it in Versailles. I just signed it.”
What about the Geneva talks?
However, the negotiating teams from both countries are still scheduled to gather in Geneva on Friday. Iranian officials stated that the purpose of the meeting in Switzerland on Friday is not to sign the agreement. Furthermore, a final decision on whether the meeting will actually take place is expected within the next few hours.
But it also indicates that the document has been signed digitally, so a face-to-face signing ceremony will not be held in Switzerland.
What about oil sales and sanctions relief?
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, said Tehran should be allowed to sell its oil without any restrictions on transportation or insurance, and should have full access to the proceeds from those sales.
He also said that the US has committed to removing obstacles to Iran’s access to its frozen assets. Iran wants to be able to export its oil freely, without restrictions on ships carrying its oil and insurance services, and to receive the proceeds from oil sales directly from its borders.
Iran said that for the next 60 days, both countries will have to exercise restraint and avoid any political, economic, or military steps that would negatively impact the implementation of the agreement and mutual trust.
A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that further talks in Switzerland will determine whether this framework will evolve into a full and permanent agreement. According to the agreement reached between the two countries, a 60-day negotiation period will begin after the signing, which can be extended by both parties. During this period, the details of the final agreement will be finalized.
