Washington DC / Évian-les-Bains, June 16: The United States and Iran have taken a major step toward normalizing relations after President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance confirmed that a framework agreement with Tehran has already been digitally signed, with a formal signing ceremony expected later this week in Geneva.
The development follows President Trump’s announcement that a comprehensive peace agreement with Iran is effectively complete and will be formally finalized on Friday. The accord is expected to reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, restore maritime traffic in the Gulf region, and establish a roadmap for future cooperation between Washington and Tehran.
Speaking to ABC’s Good Morning America, Vice President JD Vance revealed that both sides had already completed a digital signing of the agreement.
“We already signed the deal digitally yesterday, and there’s been no money released, and that won’t change,” Vance said, emphasizing that Iran would not automatically receive sanctions relief or access to frozen assets upon signing the agreement.
According to Vance, the deal is based on a performance-driven framework under which economic benefits and sanctions relief will be granted only after Iran fulfills specific obligations related to its nuclear program.
“If we see the Iranians taking action to eliminate their stockpile of enriched material, then sanctions relief will follow. If we see the Iranians allowing the verification regime that we need to see to ensure they are not building a nuclear weapon, sanctions relief will follow,” he said.
Senior US administration officials later confirmed that President Trump and Vice President Vance had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Iran establishing a framework for future engagement between the two countries.
Officials stated that the agreement outlines mechanisms for future negotiations and provides a pathway for Iran’s reintegration into the global economy if it complies with commitments regarding nuclear verification, regional security, and the cessation of support for extremist activities.
“The more that the Iranians are willing to work with us on their nuclear program, on verifying that they’re not building a nuclear weapon, and on not funding radicalism and terrorism in the region, the more they will be welcomed into the world economy through sanctions relief and other economic measures,” administration officials said.
They described the agreement as a template designed to encourage Iran to behave as a responsible member of the international community.
“If they’re willing to behave like a normal country, then we’re willing to treat them like a normal country,” officials added.
President Trump, speaking during a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the 52nd G7 Summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, described the memorandum as a “very powerful document” and said its full text would likely be released publicly after Friday’s formal signing ceremony.
“This is a very powerful document, and I want it to be released. Probably sometime after Friday,” Trump said.
The President also indicated that he may not personally attend the formal signing ceremony, citing commitments related to the G7 Summit and other diplomatic engagements. However, he confirmed that Vice President Vance would represent the United States at the event.
“It depends. JD is coming in for it. I may be involved, I may not, but JD was coming in for that specifically,” Trump told reporters.
The agreement is part of broader diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions across West Asia. Trump has repeatedly argued that the accord will bring long-term stability to the region and help secure international energy supplies.
“This Great Deal will bring Peace and Security to the whole Region. Many presidents have tried to make peace with Iran and all have failed before me,” Trump stated in a post on Truth Social. He added that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following the agreement would allow oil shipments to resume normally, benefiting both the region and the global economy.
International support for the initiative has also begun to emerge. Switzerland has welcomed the agreement and is reportedly working with the United States, Iran, Pakistan, and Qatar to facilitate the formal signing ceremony in Geneva.
Trump further stated that maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has already begun resuming following the announcement of the agreement, expressing confidence that the deal would contribute to regional stability and economic recovery.
Despite the optimism surrounding the accord, challenges remain. Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated that Israel is not bound by the US-Iran agreement and would continue to act independently to safeguard its national security interests.
“Trump’s agreement does not bind us. Israel is not subject to the United States, and we are an independent and sovereign nation,” Ben-Gvir said in a statement posted on X.
Vice President Vance acknowledged that regional complexities could complicate implementation of the agreement, particularly ongoing security concerns involving Israel and Lebanon.
“Everything is going to complicate the deal. In this region of the world, even a ceasefire sometimes goes from shooting a lot to shooting a little to shooting not at all,” Vance remarked.
Nevertheless, he expressed confidence that the agreement would ultimately benefit all parties involved.
“What we fundamentally believe is that this is going to be a good deal for the people of Israel, for the people of the Gulf, for the people of America, and potentially for the people of Iran as well,” he said.
Iran has continued to insist that Lebanon’s status and border-related concerns be addressed as part of any final regional settlement, describing Lebanon as an integral component of the broader security arrangement.
With the formal signing ceremony expected later this week, international observers are closely watching what could become one of the most significant diplomatic breakthroughs in US-Iran relations in decades, potentially reshaping the political and economic landscape of West Asia.
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