International Desk — Ending months of global anxiety, US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have officially signed a digital 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU), effectively ending the war that erupted on February 28.
Signed on Wednesday in English and Farsi, the preliminary agreement establishes a 60-day window for both nations to negotiate a permanent peace treaty.
Iranian officials have hailed the outcome as a “diplomatic victory.” Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, described the agreement as “proof of America’s surrender,” asserting that Tehran negotiated from a position of strength and extracted major concessions after Washington failed to achieve its military objectives.
The signing took place remotely while President Pezeshkian remained in Tehran, President Trump signed the document from the Palace of Versailles in France, just before attending a dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Following the signing, Trump, who previously vowed to strip Iran of its missile capabilities, remarked that it would be “unfair” for Iran not to possess ballistic missiles.
He did, however, issue a stern warning that the US would resume bombings if the temporary truce failed.
The 14-point MoU includes a planned $300 billion fund aimed at rebuilding Iran’s economy and infrastructure.
In return, Tehran has reaffirmed its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif co-signed the agreement from Islamabad as the central mediator, subsequent diplomatic meetings scheduled in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, remain tentative.
Immediate Economic Impact
The geopolitical breakthrough yielded immediate economic relief as the strategic Strait of Hormuz reopened to commercial maritime traffic.
For the first time in months, three Saudi Arabian supertankers carrying six million barrels of crude oil navigated the strait without hindrance.
US Vice President JD Vance confirmed that 12.5 million barrels of oil traversed the shipping lane shortly after the signing.
While western nations have offered assistance in clearing naval mines from the water, Iran’s Foreign Ministry rejected outside intervention, stating that maintaining security in the strait is strictly Tehran’s responsibility.
Political Division in Washington
The deal has triggered intense political friction in Washington, splitting the Republican Party. Critics argue that the MoU leaves Iran in a stronger geopolitical and financial position than before the conflict.
Conversely, supporters defend Trump’s actions as a reflection of his “America First” agenda, stating he chose economic preservation over sustained foreign warfare.
Professor Paul Musgrave of Georgetown University Qatar noted that Trump faces immense domestic pressure, particularly regarding the eventual release of frozen Iranian assets.
The Looming Lebanon Crisis
Despite the ceasefire taking effect on major battlefields, Israel—which launched joint operations with the US on February 28—is not a party to the agreement.
Israeli airstrikes continued in Lebanon, claiming three lives and leaving over a million people displaced.
Israel recently released a new map designating occupied areas of southern Lebanon as a “buffer zone,” signaling no intention of military withdrawal.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem congratulated Iran on a “great victory,” maintaining that any future disarmament talks remain off the table.
Globally, Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the Islamabad-mediated deal during the Russia-Asian Conference in Kazan, calling it a potential model for long-term regional stability.