Trump and Iran’s President Sign Agreement to End Middle East Conflict

US President Donald Trump and Iran’s president signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday aimed at ending the Middle East conflict, with Tehran agreeing to dilute its enriched uranium in exchange for significant economic relief.

Trump affixed his signature to the document during a candlelit dinner at the Palace of Versailles after a G7 summit, as French President Emmanuel Macron and other guests applauded. A video posted by a Trump aide captured the moment.

“Just signed it,” Trump told reporters as he left the palace.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, quoted by the state news agency IRNA, said the document “was finalized with the signatures of the presidents.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, which mediated the agreement, announced on X that it “shall enter into force with immediate effect.”

The deal seeks to end the war that began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched an attack that prompted Iran to respond with missile and drone strikes across the region, effectively blocking the Strait of Hormuz—a vital waterway for global trade. The US had subsequently imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.

“As a first step, Islamic Republic of Iran will instantly reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the United States of America will immediately lift the naval blockade,” Sharif wrote.

Under the agreement, Washington also commits to immediately waive oil sanctions that have weakened Iran’s economy.

Once a final accord is reached on Iran’s nuclear program, the United States will facilitate the release of a $300 billion reconstruction fund backed by regional nations, the deal states.

The agreement was initially scheduled for signatures by Iran’s chief negotiator and parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and US Vice President JD Vance. Iran said an in‑person ceremony was no longer required.

However, Sharif said an official ceremony will take place on Friday in Switzerland, and technical talks will begin.

– ‘Great victory’ –

Iran portrayed the deal as a US “failure.”

“People will see it and judge,” Ghalibaf said on state television late Wednesday, after the text was released by both sides.

China highlighted the global significance of any agreement, stating that its top diplomat had emphasized to Tehran that it was “key” for all parties to “genuinely implement” their commitments.

Trump’s decision to end the war, in which 13 US service members were killed and vast amounts of US ammunition stockpiles were used, has unsettled some of his domestic allies.

The agreement is a temporary measure intended to allow time for detailed negotiations on the more complex issue of long‑term control over Iran’s nuclear ambitions—a concern Washington has long cited as a potential secret bomb‑making program.

Trump said earlier Wednesday that he was prepared to “bomb the hell” out of Iran if they violated the agreement.

US Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican, criticized the deal, saying, “Iran’s nuclear ambitions were not curbed, and they have learned that threatening the Strait of Hormuz works. Sanctions will be lifted, and the bombing has stopped. This is the worst foreign policy blunder in decades.”

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem described the deal as a “great victory” for Iran, thanking Tehran for insisting that the truce cover Lebanon, which had been drawn into the conflict when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel on March 2 in support of Iran.

– Negotiations to begin –

A two‑month negotiation period now begins, with the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as the first step.

Under the terms released by US officials, Iran will dilute its enriched uranium stocks, possibly by “down‑blending on site under the supervision of the IAEA” — the UN’s nuclear watchdog.

This could lead to broader economic assistance for Iran, although a US official said Washington would not be required to contribute financially.

Oil prices fell in recent days as optimism grew over a lasting Middle East peace agreement, but reversed course on Wednesday. Prices briefly jumped five percent amid uncertainty about the signing before stabilizing later in the day.

– Lebanese front –

While violence declined in Lebanon after the announcement of the deal, Israeli strikes on the south have killed at least five people since then, according to state media, which also reported Israeli raids on south Lebanon on Wednesday.

Israel’s army said five soldiers were wounded on Wednesday, one severely, “as a result of an explosive drone impact in southern Lebanon,” the first such announcement since the US‑Iran deal.

The Israeli military also said its air force intercepted “several rockets” launched toward soldiers operating in south Lebanon, without reporting casualties.

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