Trump could release US-Iran deal before Friday, Vance says

US Officials Describe Preliminary Iran Agreement as Short Framework Document

US Vice-President JD Vance said on Monday that President Donald Trump may release a preliminary memorandum of understanding with Iran before Friday. The statement followed Trump's claim that an agreement had already been signed electronically.

Vance described the document as roughly one and a half pages long and general in nature. He told NBC News that nuclear inspectors would be permitted to return to Iran under the terms outlined. He added that the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United States would assist Iran in disposing of its highly enriched uranium stockpile, a provision he said was stated explicitly in the text.

Senior US officials briefed reporters that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen on Friday, coinciding with the planned formal signing in Geneva. Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stated that a new round of negotiations toward a final agreement would begin in Switzerland on the same day. Technical discussions on Iran's nuclear programme are scheduled to start this week, the officials said, while any sanctions relief or asset releases would be tied to Iran's compliance with specific commitments.

Trump made the remarks during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the G7 summit in France. The summit schedule includes a session on Iran on Tuesday attended by the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Trump stated that the memorandum had been signed by himself, Vance and Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Vance told Fox News that Trump might choose to publish the text before the Friday ceremony. In earlier comments to CNN, he said many details would be addressed in subsequent technical negotiations. The first paragraph of the memorandum, according to Vance, commits Iran to regional peace and stability, including an end to funding for certain organisations. He also said the document contains a verifiable commitment that Iran will not build a nuclear weapon.

The reported framework would extend an existing ceasefire by 60 days while further talks continue. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government acted as mediator, announced the breakthrough on Sunday and said it included the immediate and permanent end of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.

US officials stated that Lebanon falls under the ceasefire framework but that withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory is not a required condition. They added that Israel retains the right to self-defence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday evening that Israeli forces would remain in security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza for as long as necessary and would keep the freedom to respond to attacks. He also said Iran would not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, whether or not a deal is reached.

Lebanese media reported a strike on a vehicle in southern Lebanon on Monday, the first such incident since the announcement. Hezbollah said it had launched missiles and drones in response. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed four deaths and stated the targets were militants. Araghchi said Iran would regard any further Israeli attack on Lebanon or continued Israeli presence there as a violation of the interim agreement. He described the memorandum as involving the United States and Israel on one side and Iran and Hezbollah on the other.

Trump said on Sunday that he had ordered the lifting of a US naval blockade of Iranian ports and that the Strait of Hormuz would open upon signing of the initial agreement. He posted on social media that ships carrying oil had begun moving out of the strait. Iran's deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed the end of military operations in a state television interview and said Qatari mediators conducted nearly 14 to 15 hours of talks in Tehran. Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said the outcome showed that the United States and Israel had no option but to accept the result. Iran's foreign ministry said the country still held deep mistrust of the United States and viewed the agreement only as a step toward reducing tensions.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed the announcement and said he hoped the understandings would lead to practical steps ending the cycle of violence. Past points of contention have included Iran's nuclear enrichment activities and Western demands that Iran not acquire a nuclear weapon, as well as Iran's requests for comprehensive sanctions relief and access to frozen oil revenues.

US officials have not released the full text of the memorandum. The timeline for release and the precise status of the electronic signatures have not been confirmed by Iranian authorities or by other governments involved in the mediation. Reporting on the agreement continues to rely on statements from named officials and unnamed senior US sources.