US and Iran Sign Memorandum of Understanding to End War and Open Strait of Hormuz

The United States and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding remotely aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with the agreement now in effect as of mid-June 2026. President Donald Trump personally signed the document while dining with French President Macron at the Palace of Versailles, while Iranian President Pezeshkian signed on the Iranian side. The memorandum was drafted in both Persian and English to avoid translation disputes, with both parties signing versions in each language.

The signing ceremony was originally scheduled for June 19 in Switzerland, but was accelerated following consensus between the parties on opening the Strait of Hormuz. According to diplomatic sources, the expedited timeline was driven by both countries' agreement on the waterway issue and the need to implement the agreement earlier. Some officials suggested political pressure on the White House regarding public disclosure of the memorandum text may have influenced the decision, though Iranian sources claimed the delay in publication was at Iran's request to avoid controversy.

The memorandum was initially signed electronically on June 14 by US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, with Trump witnessing the ceremony. The full text was subsequently signed by the two presidents. A planned delegation-level meeting between Vance and Ghalibaf in Switzerland on June 19 is expected to proceed as scheduled, despite the early signing by the heads of state. The agreement represents a significant diplomatic development in US-Iran relations and regional stability.