The memorandum was scheduled to be signed on Friday in Switzerland, but was instead signed electronically by Presidents Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian, initiating a new phase of negotiations between the two countries
SANTO DOMINGO – What was initially scheduled for Friday, January 19, in Switzerland ended up happening earlier. The United States and Iran electronically signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday, January 17, seeking to end the war that began in late February and open a new phase of negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions.
The EFE news agency reported that US President Donald Trump confirmed he signed the agreement while at the Palace of Versailles in France, after participating in the G7 summit. Later, his advisor Dan Scavino released a video showing the president signing the document and handing it to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
According to France 24, the agreement had initially been scheduled for an official ceremony on Friday in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, but the signing was brought forward after both governments opted to validate the document electronically.
For his part, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed to state television that the memorandum was digitally signed by Presidents Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian, and that the document entered into force immediately, as reported by the Iranian media outlet INRA.
A 14-point agreement
According to information released by the Spanish newspaper El País, the memorandum contains 14 points and establishes an immediate cessation of military operations between both parties and their allies, including the Lebanese front.
The document also contemplates a 60-day period to negotiate a final agreement on the Iranian nuclear program and the lifting of economic sanctions imposed by Washington.
Hormuz and oil, among the priorities
According to Infobae, one of the main objectives of bringing forward the signing was to accelerate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, considered one of the most important maritime corridors for the global trade of oil and gas.
The agreement stipulates that Iran will guarantee the safe transit of commercial vessels through the area, while the United States will progressively lift the naval blockade imposed on Iranian ports.
La Nación, an Argentine newspaper, noted that the memorandum also includes a reconstruction plan for Iran valued at approximately US$300 billion and anticipates the gradual release of frozen Iranian assets, in addition to the progressive lifting of sanctions.
A more complex stage begins
The international digital newspaper Hola Newshighlighted that, although the signing has already taken place, Iranian authorities acknowledged that implementing the commitments will be more difficult than reaching the agreement.
During the next two months, both sides must negotiate a final agreement that addresses issues related to the Iranian nuclear program, the complete lifting of sanctions, and international monitoring mechanisms.
This signing also represents the first formal agreement between Washington and Tehran since the United States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear pact, marking a new chapter in a relationship characterized for decades by tensions and diplomatic clashes, according to experts consulted by El Pais.
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