Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Thursday that signing the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States to end the war in the Middle East means, as a first step, Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and immediately ending the US naval blockade imposed on Iranian ports, in a development that puts the agreement before the first practical test at the level of shipping and energy traffic.
Sharif wrote on the “X” platform that the memorandum of understanding “will enter into force immediately,” adding: “As a first step, Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz without delay, and the United States of America will lift the naval blockade immediately.”
The Pakistani Prime Minister confirmed that a ceremony will be held on Friday in Switzerland “to celebrate this prominent event and launch technical talks,” indicating that the process has moved from political signing to the stage of research into implementation mechanisms and technical details related to the terms of the agreement.
US President Donald Trump announced, early Thursday morning, the signing of a copy of the memorandum of understanding concluded with Iran, while the Axios website reported that the United States and Iran signed electronically, on Wednesday, a memorandum of understanding to end the war.
Axios quoted high-ranking American officials as saying that the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran entered into force after it was signed remotely. The website indicated that Trump personally signed a copy of the agreement during a dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles, before a copy of the signed document was sent to the Iranians and mediators.
An American official confirmed that President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, were the ones who signed the memorandum of understanding, which gave the agreement its highest political weight, in light of the sensitivity of the period that followed the military confrontations and escalating tensions in the region.
The Associated Press reported, citing American officials, on Wednesday, that the draft agreement includes a new standard based on the “minimum” for reducing the degree of mixing of Iranian highly enriched uranium. It also includes provisions to ensure the “territorial integrity” of Lebanon after the recent Israeli attacks against Hezbollah on Lebanese territory.
In return, the United States will move to suspend some of the broad sanctions imposed on Iran, without completely lifting them in the first phase, once the agreement is signed. Officials explained that the American draft also includes allowing passage through the Strait of Hormuz without any fees for a period of only 60 days, without preventing the imposition of fees in the future.
Early on Thursday morning, Iranian official media quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei as saying that the presidents of the United States and Iran had officially signed the memorandum of understanding between the two countries, noting, according to what Reuters reported, that “negotiating teams are still scheduled to attend Geneva.”
Baghaei added that negotiations on the mechanism for implementing the memorandum of understanding will begin immediately, stressing the need to lift the oil sanctions imposed on Iran and enable Tehran to start selling its oil starting today for a period of 60 days.
The Iranian spokesman stressed that the other party should not, within the 60-day period, increase its military presence in the region or impose new sanctions, indicating that Tehran views the agreement as a mutual test of commitment, not just a political declaration.
Regarding the nuclear file, Baghaei said that Iranian nuclear materials will not be sent outside the country, explaining that the existing option is to dilute the enriched uranium. As for the frozen Iranian funds, he stressed that America is committed to removing all obstacles that prevent Tehran from accessing these funds.
The issue of the Strait of Hormuz is of exceptional importance in the agreement, given its strategic position in the global energy movement, as any closure or disruption in this sea corridor will quickly reflect on oil markets and international trade. Hence, reopening the Strait without delay appears to be the first indication of Tehran’s seriousness in implementing its commitments, in exchange for Washington beginning steps to lift the naval blockade and suspend oil sanctions.
Also, including Lebanon among the terms of the agreement, by talking about ensuring the safety of its territories after the recent Israeli attacks, adds a sensitive regional dimension to the memorandum of understanding. The agreement is not limited to the nuclear file, oil, or maritime navigation, but rather expands to include the rules of calm in burning arenas, including Lebanon, where any new Israeli strike or potential field escalation remains a factor capable of testing the solidity of the understanding.
Between the Hormuz conquest, the suspension of sanctions, and the start of technical negotiations in Switzerland, Washington and Tehran enter the 60-day phase amid wide international anticipation. The next stage will not be measured by the image of Trump signing in Versailles, nor by the Pezeshkian declaration from Tehran, but rather by the ability of the two parties to transform the terms of the agreement into concrete measures that prevent the return of escalation and reset the regional scene to a new rhythm.
