French President Emmanuel Macron, who was present during the signing, announced the breakthrough on social media. “President Trump signed tonight at Versailles the agreement between Iran and the United States.”
The interim accord lays out commitments aimed at ending hostilities, restoring maritime navigation, and creating a framework for future negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has been involved in mediation efforts, endorsed the signing and confirmed that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has also signed electronically.
“The signing of this agreement at the highest level of the respective governments demonstrates the commitment of both sides to a diplomatic resolution of the conflict,” Sharif said, adding that the MoU would enter into force immediately.
As a first step, Sharif said, Iran will instantly reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the US will immediately lift the naval blockade.
Under the deal, Iran has agreed not to pursue nuclear weapons, maintain the status quo of its nuclear programme, and negotiate the future of its enriched uranium stockpile under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) supervision. However, the agreement does not require Tehran to halt uranium enrichment or dismantle its nuclear facilities.
The signing marks the most significant diplomatic breakthrough since the war began on February 28, when Israeli and US strikes on Iran triggered the West Asia war and rattled crude and financial markets across the world.
However, Iran had struck a largely cautious tone even as the two warring nations progressed on the deal, insisting that any agreement must guarantee an end to military action and respect its sovereignty.