Pakistan PM confirms US-Iran deal ceremony to be held in Switzerland on Friday
Pakistan PM says Iran to 'instantly' reopen Hormuz, US to 'immediately' lift blockade
The signing of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding to end the Middle East war means Tehran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz "instantly" and the American blockade of Iranian ports will end "immediately", Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday.
The memorandum "shall enter into force with immediate effect and 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 on X.
He also confirmed that Pakistan, with Qatari support, would host a ceremony in Switzerland on Friday to "commemorate this landmark event and commence with the technical level talks".
US-Iran deal takes 'immediate effect' after both sides sign, Pakistan premier says
Iran insists the deal represented a US "failure"
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, quoted by the state news agency IRNA, said the document "was finalized with the signatures of the presidents."
The deal aims to draw a line under the war launched February 28 by the United States and Israel, prompting Iran to counterattack with missile and drone salvos across the region -- and effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for the world economy.
"Now it is time to test the implementation of the agreement," Baqaei said.
Under the text, Washington commits to immediately waive oil sanctions crippling Iran's economy.
And once a final agreement is reached on the Islamic republic's nuclear program, the United States will also facilitate the release of a $300 billion reconstruction fund supported by regional nations, the deal says.
Iran insisted the deal represented a US "failure."
"People will see it and judge," Ghalibaf said on state television late Wednesday, after the text was released by both sides.
Trump, Iran's president sign deal to end Mideast war
US President Donald Trump and Iran's president signed a deal Wednesday meant to end the Middle East war, with Tehran agreeing to dilute its enriched uranium in return for large-scale economic relief.
Trump put his signature to the memorandum of understanding during dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles following a G7 summit, a US official told AFP.
"Just signed it," Trump told reporters as he emerged from 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."
"Now it is time to test the implementation of the agreement," Baqaei said.
Yesterday's key developments:
- US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war with Iran , a US official told Reuters.
- Iran's chief negotiator on Wednesday repeated Tehran would charge ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz after a 60-day fee-free period stipulated in a memorandum of understanding with the US.
- Iran could get access to a $300 billion reconstruction fund under a deal with the United States, US officials said Wednesday as they released the text, while insisting that Washington was under no commitment to contribute.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AP and AFP)
