US President Donald Trump and Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian have separately signed a framework peace agreement, calling for an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts and paving the way for a final deal within the next 60 days.
Signing Ceremony Details
Trump signed the agreement during a candlelit dinner at the Palace of Versailles in France on Friday night, following his G7 trip. Iranian state media reported that Pezeshkian signed the document in the early hours of Thursday. A US official told CNN that the US sent a photo of the signed agreement to Iran, which was then signed by the Iranian president. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, acting as a mediator, also shared a photo and video on Instagram of himself signing the memorandum, known as the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
Background of the Conflict
The four-month war began with US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top Iranian military officials. The conflict spiraled into a regional war that killed thousands, mostly in Iran and Lebanon, and caused an energy crisis as Iran retaliated by closing shipping traffic along the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil export route. The US responded with a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Key Points of the Agreement
The memorandum includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a controversial $300-billion plan for Iran's reconstruction, and the US terminating all types of sanctions on Iran. Negotiations on other issues, particularly Tehran's nuclear capabilities, are expected to begin in Switzerland as early as Friday.
Swiss Talks for Implementation
The Swiss foreign ministry confirmed Thursday that initial negotiations on implementing the memorandum are planned at the Burgenstock luxury hotel complex near Lucerne, Switzerland, on Friday. The announcement lifted uncertainty over the meeting, initially announced Tuesday as a signing ceremony but moved forward. Iran's chief negotiator, Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and US Vice President JD Vance are expected to participate in discussions to flesh out the deal's details.
Iranian President's Statement
Iranian state media released images of Pezeshkian signing the memorandum. In a post on X, he called it a historical document and a message from a powerful Iran, stating that peace will be realized in the shadow of mutual respect. He emphasized Iran's commitment to global peace while preserving its dignity and independence.
