Iran’s lead negotiator has mocked the peace agreement as a significant failure on the part of the United States following its official signing. The complete text of the Memorandum of Understanding was released by the US prior to the scheduled signing later in the evening.
The deal encompasses the extension of the ceasefire, the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and aims to resolve the conflict within four months. The agreement, deemed “digital,” is now in effect, giving the countries a 60-day window to demonstrate their commitment to the terms post-signing.
Despite this, Iran’s chief negotiator criticized the agreement as a failure for the US. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaking on state TV after the text’s disclosure, labeled the deal as a testament to US shortcomings, inviting public scrutiny.
He confirmed that Tehran plans to impose charges on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz once the initial 60-day grace period specified in the memorandum expires. The vice president is set to travel to Switzerland this Friday to finalize the agreement with Iran, aiming to resolve the Middle East conflict.
President Trump, aged 80, will cut short his presence at the G7 summit in Europe to return to the US. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential scapegoating of Vice President Vance should the agreement collapse.
During the summit in France, Trump addressed inquiries about the vice president’s role in the deal. Responding to a Fox News reporter’s query, Trump humorously entertained the notion of assigning blame to the vice president if things go awry, eliciting laughter from the audience.
Trump joked about taking credit if the agreement succeeds and shifting blame to the vice president if it fails. He playfully warned the vice president about the consequences of failure, generating a lighthearted atmosphere at the conference.
Before the agreement details were made public, the vice president disclosed that Qatari and Pakistani negotiators, instrumental in brokering the deal, requested a delay in releasing the full text. Vance emphasized the deal’s positive aspects, emphasizing its potential benefits for the American populace.
He championed the agreement, highlighting the opportunity for Iran to reengage with the global economy by meeting key conditions such as ceasing support for terrorism and abandoning nuclear ambitions.