By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have digitally signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the ongoing war. The agreement aims for an “immediate and permanent termination of military operations” in the conflict that began on February 28. President Trump confirmed the signing while attending a dinner at the Palace of Versailles with French President Emmanuel Macron. Responding to reporters, Trump stated, “It’s signed. Signed in Versailles. Just signed it.”
Terms of the Interim Agreement
The 14-point memorandum outlines significant steps toward de-escalation. Under the deal, the United States will terminate all types of sanctions and unfreeze restricted Iranian funds and assets. Simultaneously, the U.S. will begin removing its naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iran, in turn, has agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for the “safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days only.” Both nations have committed to negotiations for a final, substantive deal within a 60-day window, which is extendable by mutual consent.
Nuclear and Regional Provisions
A central component of the agreement involves Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran reaffirms that it “shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons,” with a mutually agreed-upon mechanism to address its stockpile of enriched material. A senior U.S. official described the commitment to destroy the enriched stockpile as “a major, major win for the United States of America.” Furthermore, the MOU includes a commitment for the U.S. to coordinate with regional partners on a plan to facilitate at least $300 billion for Iran’s “reconstruction and economic development,” provided the terms of the deal are upheld.
Implementation and Diplomatic Skepticism
While the agreement takes immediate effect, both sides remain cautious. The U.S. has signaled that it maintains other tools if the deal fails. A senior official stated, “If we’re not able to make a great deal, President Trump’s very clear that he’s a lot of tools at his disposal, and he will not be afraid to use them.” Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf framed the agreement as a victory, telling state TV, “This agreement is a record of America’s failure, and people will judge it.” He added, “Our current negotiations are from a position of strength.”
The Challenge of Regional Security
The deal addresses the conflict in Lebanon, though it remains a delicate issue. President Trump acknowledged the complexity, noting, “The Lebanon peace is something we’ll have to work on a little bit.” Although Israel is not a direct party to the agreement, U.S. officials emphasized that they remain in constant contact with the Israeli government. Regarding Hezbollah, a U.S. official explained, “We were very clear with Iran that this will not be a one-sided ceasefire, you know, they have to get a collar on their dog in Hezbollah, and they’ve got to hold them back. And if Hezbollah attacked Israel, Israel’s going to have the full ability to go and attack back.”
Future Diplomatic Steps
The agreement received early support from G7 leaders, who described it as a “historic opportunity to prevent Iran from acquiring any nuclear weapon and tackling the threats related to its regional and ballistic activities.” Despite the progress, President Trump faces the task of convincing skeptical members of his own Republican Party. Reflecting on past nuclear negotiations, Trump stated, “His deal was really dangerous, what he did, he gave them everything including a lot of money.” He emphasized that under this new framework, frozen funds will be released “only if they’re doing things right.” A formal ceremonial event to mark the agreement is still expected to take place in Switzerland on Friday.
