US President Donald Trump and Iran have shocked the world, rushing through a digital, remote signing of their memorandum of understanding to end the war, diminishing the significance of a signing ceremony in Switzerland.
The move comes after the details of the 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) leaked online, something officials in Tehran were not pleased about.
Friday’s signing in Switzerland was meant to be a grand show of peace between the two nations. US Vice President JD Vance and Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf were set to meet in the neutral country to welcome in a new era.
An event of some kind is still expected to go ahead, however, if it will remain the same remains unclear.
On Wednesday night in France, a lavish dinner for Mr Trump hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and French First Lady Brigitte Macron was forced to halt mid service.
With half eaten plates visible in front of guests seated nearby, Mr Trump signed a paper version of the deal, something that was then digitally sent to Tehran.
As the room fell silent, and Mr Macron watched on sitting next to the US President, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio handed Mr Trump the deal to urgently sign. With his marker in hand, Mr Trump penned his signature in the name of world peace.
US outlet Axios reported that the deal was now in full effect, something that should see the Strait of Hormuz fully open and operating again in pre-war conditions, according to two US officials.
As Mr Trump left dinner with the French President at the Palace of Versailles, he was asked to confirm the latest twist in the deal.
“Did you sign it?” a reporter shouted.
The US President responded, “It’s signed, yeah. I signed it in Versailles.”
Earlier on Wednesday, speaking at the G7 summit, Mr Trump said if the US hadn’t made this deal with Iran, he could have “dropped more bombs” for another two years, but an “economic catastrophe” would have occurred.
Mr Trump claimed that in the final two nights of strikes, the US dropped $US200 million worth of bombs on Iran.
He warned Iran a third night was coming if a deal wasn’t made, and now, the US and Iran have an agreement.
The US President said what has occurred could be called “regime change”, adding the new people in charge were “very smart” and better than the previous leadership in Iran.
Why deal was signed early
Mr Trump and the Iranian president both signed the deal digitally, with Axios reporting an image of a signed document was sent to Tehran.
Iranian officials reportedly did not want the details of the deal published until it was signed, however, the text was distributed by a Trump administration official on Wednesday.
Pressure had mounted on the US Government to share the details of what was being agreed to, something they appeared to cave to.
The two parties had also reportedly become more comfortable with the deal, and were ready to sign it into full effect and open the Strait of Hormuz, something that will have enormous economic impacts for Iran, the US and the world.
Mr Trump said on Wednesday that no country or ally had come to him requesting he not make the deal, adding no one was asking him to “keep bombing”.
US and Iran memorandum of understanding full text
1. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran and their allies in the current war, by signing this MoU, declare the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and undertake from now on not to initiate any war or any military operation against each other, and to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other, and ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon. The final deal will confirm the permanent termination of the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and other provisions of this paragraph.
2. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran undertake to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to refrain from interfering in each other’s internal affairs.
3. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran commit to negotiating and achieving the final deal in a maximum of 60 days, extendable by mutual consent.
4. Immediately upon the signing of this MoU, the United States of America will begin the removal of its naval blockade and any disturbances or impediments against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and will fully end the naval blockade within 30 days. During this period, the traffic of vessels will be in proportion to the numbers of pre-war traffic being restored by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America further undertakes to remove its forces from the proximity of the Islamic Republic of Iran within 30 days after the final deal.
5. Upon the signing of this MoU, the Islamic Republic of Iran will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days only from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman, and vice versa. The traffic of commercial vessels will immediately start, and considering the need for removing the technical and military obstacles and de-mining by the Islamic Republic of Iran, will be instated within 30 days. The Islamic Republic of Iran will conduct dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz, in discussion with other Persian Gulf littoral states, in line with the applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz.
6. The United States of America 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. The mechanism for the implementation of this plan will be finalized as part of a final deal within 60 days. All required licenses, waivers, and permissions needed for the relevant financial transactions will be granted by the United States of America.
7. The United States of America undertakes to terminate all types of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the United Nations Security Council resolutions, IAEA Board of Governors resolutions, and all unilateral US sanctions, primary and secondary, in an agreed upon schedule as part of the final deal. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America acknowledge the critical importance of the sanctions termination issue above mentioned and expressed their intentions to immediately address these issues in the negotiations, in order to achieve mutual agreement on them.
8. The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran have agreed to resolve the disposition of stockpiled enriched material pursuant to a mechanism that will be mutually agreed upon in accordance with the schedule mentioned in paragraph seven with the minimum methodology to be down-blending on site under the supervision of the IAEA. The two parties also agreed to discuss the issue of enrichment and other mutually agreed matters related to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear needs based on a satisfactory framework being agreed upon in the final deal. The final deal will confirm the provisions of this paragraph. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran acknowledge the critical importance of the nuclear issues above mentioned and express their intention to immediately address these issues in the negotiations in order to achieve mutual agreement on them.
9. Pending the final deal, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree to maintain the status quo. The Islamic Republic of Iran will maintain the current status quo of its nuclear program, and the United States of America will not impose any new sanctions and will not deploy additional forces in the region.
10. The United States of America undertakes that immediately upon the signing of this MoU and until the termination of sanctions, the US Department of Treasury will issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products, and derivatives, and all associated services, including banking transactions, insurances, transportation, etc.
11. The United States of America undertakes to make fully available for use the frozen or restricted funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran upon the implementation of the MoU. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will mutually agree on the procedures related to the release of these funds during the negotiations. Such funds, whether retained in the original account or transferred, shall be made fully usable for payment to any ultimate beneficiary designated by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America undertakes to issue all necessary licenses and authorizations accordingly.
12. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree that an executive mechanism will be established to monitor the successful implementation of this MoU and the future compliance of the final deal.
13. After signing this MoU and subject to the beginning of the implementation of paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 10, and 11 of this MoU, and the continuing implementation of these measures, the United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran will start negotiations regarding the final deal exclusively on the other paragraphs.
14. The final deal will be endorsed by a binding UNSC resolution.
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