On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed a pact with Iran that requires Tehran to reduce its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and lifts U.S.-backed sanctions, thereby enabling Iran to export oil freely — a significant concession from Washington, as reported by both governments.
The agreement becomes effective immediately following the signatures of leaders from both nations, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who acted as mediator, announced on social media.
It stipulates a permanent cessation of hostilities and initiates a 60‑day negotiation period to craft a definitive nuclear agreement, while Trump retained the option to resume hostilities. The deal grants Iran immediate concessions with limited reciprocal concessions.
The arrangement has been marked by secrecy and confusion for several days, and U.S. officials have declined to reveal its details despite earlier claims that President Trump and Vice President JD Vance had signed it digitally over the weekend.
Trump signed a hard‑copy version of the agreement on Wednesday during a dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at Versailles, the historic palace where numerous landmark treaties have been concluded.
The White House had scheduled a signing ceremony for Friday in Switzerland, but its future is now uncertain amid divergent reports from the United States, Iran, and Pakistan.
“It’s signed,” Trump said as he departed the Versailles dinner, which followed his participation in the Group of Seven summit in France.
A video posted by a White House aide showed Trump seated beside Macron, signing the paper agreement; he then handed the document and pen to Secretary of State Marco Rubio while attendees applauded.
“This was not easy,” Trump remarked just before signing, according to a video shared by Macron on social media.
In Tehran, President Masoud Pezeshkian, appearing stoic, signed the agreement on Iran’s behalf, according to the state‑run IRNA news agency, which posted an image of him displaying the signed document alongside Trump’s signature.
U.S. officials have not released the deal’s text to the public, but media reports suggest the White House accepted substantial concessions to facilitate the agreement, even though it had previously adopted a hardline stance toward the Islamic Republic.
The accord largely reverts to the pre‑war status quo, ending hostilities, reviving negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz — a vital conduit for global oil and gas that had triggered a historic energy crisis when closed.
The agreement lifts tolls on the strait for two months, permitting the resumption of roughly one‑fifth of global oil and gas flows, though future fees are not ruled out, according to drafts from both sides.
In exchange, the United States will begin lifting certain broad sanctions on Iran, though not all will be removed.
The pact reaffirms support for Lebanon’s territorial integrity amid Israel’s ongoing invasion and actions aimed at Hezbollah, despite a fragile existing truce.
This aspect is among the most delicate, as Israel insists on retaining its right to self‑defence and occupying large parts of Lebanon, while Iran has repeatedly demanded Israeli withdrawal, a condition Israel has already rejected.
The United States and Israel launched a war on 28 February partly to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Trump has articulated multiple objectives, including pledging to end Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, curb its support for Hezbollah and other regional proxies, and, at times, suggested the conflict could lead to regime change.
Although the interim agreement does not fulfill all of those objectives, Trump described it as “very strong.”
“It’s a memorandum of understanding, and if I don’t like it, we’ll return to shooting at them and dropping bombs,” a defiant Trump said in Paris.
