The US and Iran have officially confirmed the signing of a memorandum of understanding aimed at halting military hostilities and ensuring the safety of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The document has already entered into force, made possible by a remote signing procedure conducted by the leaders of both countries.
Remote ceremony and double signing
The official ceremony, which was scheduled to take place in Switzerland on Friday, was moved to a digital format. Sources indicate that both sides demonstrated a desire to implement the agreement quickly to immediately open the strait for international trade. A senior US administration official confirmed that the first electronic signing took place on Sunday.
On the American side, the document was signed by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The Iranian side was represented by the Speaker of Parliament, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf. However, on Wednesday, information emerged of a repeated action: Trump, while in France for dinner with President Emmanuel Macron, signed the document again. According to CNN, this time it concerned a paper copy of the agreement.
Political context and transparency of the deal
The question of the timing of the publication of the memorandum text became a subject of discussion. Iran previously insisted that the text not be disclosed until the moment of official signing. The White House denied claims that this decision was made under pressure, although the political backdrop surrounding the deal remains tense.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghai commented on the linguistic aspects of the document. According to him, the memorandum was signed in both English and Persian. This was done to eliminate possible discrepancies in translation and disputes regarding the interpretation of the agreement's terms.
Negotiations in Switzerland and the nuclear program
Despite the completion of the signing procedure, plans for an in-person meeting of delegations remain. As reported by Axios sources, a meeting of the American and Iranian groups led by Vance and Ghalibaf is scheduled to take place on Friday in Switzerland. The main topic of discussion will be the launch of negotiations on Iran's nuclear program.
Exact details of the differences between the electronic signature from Sunday and the document signed on Wednesday remain unclear for now, as officials have not provided exhaustive comments. Nevertheless, the fact of the agreement entering into force and the parties' intention to continue dialogue in Switzerland indicate a significant shift in bilateral relations.