The U.S.–Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has entered into force following remote signatures by both countries’ leaders, according to a Thursday morning (June 18, 2026) announcement by Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A White House official confirmed the development.
Remote Signing Replaces Planned Switzerland Ceremony
The MoU bears the signatures of U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Baghaei stated. As a result, the in-person signing ceremony originally scheduled for Friday, June 19, 2026, in Switzerland has been rendered unnecessary. A decision on whether any face-to-face meeting between the two leaders will now take place is expected within the coming hours.
Background and Negotiation Context
Prior to the announcement, Iranian officials—including Baghaei—had indicated that a remote signing by the two presidents remained under consideration, even as preparations continued for the planned summit in Switzerland. Speaking on Tuesday, June 17, Baghaei said: “Our plans for the meeting—scheduled for Friday in Switzerland—have not changed so far. Regarding the MoU signing, one option under review is for it to be carried out directly by the two presidents remotely.”
Earlier reports had suggested the document would instead be signed by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and U.S. Vice President JD Vance. Meanwhile, at the G7 summit in Évian, France, former U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on June 17 that the framework agreement with Iran “will be signed soon—tomorrow or perhaps the day after.” When asked whether he planned to remain in Europe for the signing, Trump left the possibility open but added that it was “not necessarily a text he himself needed to sign.”
Key Terms of the Agreement
The full text of the MoU states that the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran—and their respective allies in the ongoing conflict—have jointly agreed in good faith to the following:
1. The parties hereby sign this Memorandum of Understanding to declare the immediate and definitive cessation of all military operations across all fronts—including Lebanon—and commit, from this point forward, to refrain from initiating any war or military action against one another. They further pledge to abstain from threatening or using force against each other and to uphold the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon.
The final agreement will formally confirm the permanent end of hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon.