US, Iran Sign Deal Remotely Ahead of Schedule – Axios
The United States and Iran have remotely signed their memorandum of understanding to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz, and the agreement is now in effect, Axios reported Wednesday quoting two US officials.
The signing was supposed to happen in Switzerland on Friday, but a diplomat from a mediating country and a second source familiar told Axios earlier on Wednesday that there had been discussions about signing and implementing it earlier.
Iran’s foreign ministry said the sides had agreed that the MOU should be signed electronically by both presidents.
The official Iranian news agency IRNA on Wednesday published the full text of the 14-point memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US.
The document outlines a framework for ending hostilities, launching negotiations toward a final agreement and addressing issues ranging from sanctions and maritime security to Iran’s nuclear program and reconstruction.
Key provisions of the draft:
– Immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, with commitments not to resort to force and to guarantee Lebanon’s sovereignty.
– Mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.
– Negotiations on a final agreement within 60 days, extendable by mutual consent.
– Lifting of the US naval blockade and related restrictions, with complete termination within 30 days and eventual withdrawal of US forces from areas surrounding Iran after a final agreement.
– Restoration of commercial shipping and navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran consulting Oman and other Gulf littoral states on its future administration.
– Creation of a reconstruction and economic development program worth at least $300 billion for Iran with US and regional partner support.
– Commitment by the US to end all sanctions on Iran, including UN, IAEA-related, and primary and secondary US sanctions, under a mutually agreed timetable.
– Iran’s reaffirmation that it will neither produce nor acquire nuclear weapons, alongside negotiations on enriched material and civilian nuclear activities.
– Maintenance of the status quo during negotiations, with Iran preserving its current nuclear program and the US refraining from new sanctions or additional military deployments.
– Immediate US waivers allowing exports of Iranian oil and petrochemical products, including related banking, insurance and transportation services.
– Release and full usability of frozen Iranian funds and assets, with procedures to be agreed during negotiations.
– Establishment of a joint implementation mechanism to monitor compliance with the memorandum and future final agreement.
– Launch of negotiations on a final agreement once implementation begins on key provisions, including the ceasefire, maritime measures, oil waivers and access to frozen assets.
– Endorsement of the final agreement through a binding UN Security Council resolution.
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