In a moment that will likely define a turning point in Middle East history, US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have officially signed a peace deal aimed at ending months of devastating war.
The signing took place not in a war room or diplomatic chamber, but over dinner — at the Palace of Versailles, following a G7 summit, with French President Emmanuel Macron seated beside Trump. Holding a pen in hand, Trump turned to the leaders around him and said simply, “This was not easy — that I can tell you.” He then signed the memorandum and held it up for the room, met with applause from Macron, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other guests.
The 14-point Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding is sweeping in scope. It calls for an immediate halt to military operations, including in Lebanon, and commits both nations to negotiating a final agreement within 60 days. Crucially, it includes the lifting of the US naval blockade, safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, phased sanctions relief, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and a US-backed $300 billion economic development programme for Iran. Iran has also reaffirmed it will not pursue nuclear weapons, with future talks on enriched uranium stockpiles to proceed under IAEA supervision.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei struck a measured tone, noting that the real test now lies in implementation. Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, framed the talks as being conducted from a “position of strength,” arguing that battlefield outcomes must be backed by legal and political agreements to have lasting value.
Global Reactions to the Deal
Macron called the deal “an important step in the right direction,” noting it would help reduce energy prices by reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan, which briefly mediated during the conflict, also welcomed the agreement, with PM Shehbaz Sharif praising Trump’s “steadfast commitment to diplomacy.”
While the road ahead remains uncertain, this signing marks a rare moment of hope in a long and costly conflict.
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