'This was not easy': Trump and Iran sign interim ceasefire deal in France

What Happened

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Palace of Versailles, France, during the G7 summit. The digital agreement, witnessed by French President Emmanuel Macron, follows a fragile ceasefire in place since 8 April that halted a war triggered on 28 February when the US and Israel launched coordinated air strikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and precipitating Iranian retaliation against Israel, US bases, and Gulf states, as well as a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The 14-point MoU mandates immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, and commits both sides to no further military action. The US will begin lifting its naval blockade immediately and fully within 30 days; Iran will ensure safe commercial vessel passage for 60 days. On nuclear issues, Iran reiterates its 50-year commitment against building nuclear weapons, will down-blend its 440 kg of 60%-enriched uranium on-site under IAEA supervision, and both sides will negotiate the broader nuclear programme and reconstruction fund ($300bn) over the 60-day window. Trump, however, warned that failure to conclude a final treaty would mean resuming bombing.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The deal temporarily halts a devastating regional war that disrupted global oil supplies via the Strait of Hormuz, killed Iran's top leadership, and drew in multiple regional actors. It freezes military escalation, reopens a critical energy chokepoint, and initiates technical talks on Iran's nuclear programme—where the US has signaled a potential shift toward accepting civilian enrichment under safeguards. The 60-day clock imposes a stark binary: final ceasefire or renewed bombing, directly affecting global energy markets and Middle Eastern stability.

Watch For

Negotiating teams from both sides are expected to gather in Geneva on Friday, though a formal bilateral meeting has not been confirmed. The 30-day deadline for full US naval blockade removal and initial IAEA-monitored down-blending of Iran's 60%-enriched uranium are immediate markers. The 60-day comprehensive treaty negotiation window, with Trump's explicit threat of resumed bombing, will dominate diplomatic and security postures. Iran's insistence on not discussing its missile programme may become a friction point.