IRAN WAR: Trump, Pezeshkian sign deal to end war

Here's the latest on the Iran war on Thursday

Published Jun 18, 2026  •  3 minute read

In this combination photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, left, is seen holding up a signed interim agreement to end the war in the Middle East in a videograb from footage shared by France's President Emmanuel Macron on X; Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, right, is seen holding the document in a handout photo from the Telegram account of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). Photo by Emmanuel Macron via X/IRIB / AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. and Iran have separately signed the framework peace agreement, which calls for an “immediate and permanent” end to military operations on all fronts, and paves the way for a “final deal” in the next 60 days.

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U.S. President Donald Trump signed a copy of the agreement during a candlelit dinner at the Palace of Versailles in France on Friday night at the end of his G7 trip, while Iranian state media reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the agreement in the early hours of Thursday.

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A U.S. official told CNN that the U.S. sent a photo of the signed agreement to the Iranians, which was then signed by the Iranian president.

As a mediator, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also shared a photo and a video on Instagram of himself signing the memorandum, known as the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, on Thursday.

The four-month war sparked by U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top Iranian military officials, spiralled into a regional conflict that has killed thousands of people — mostly in Iran and Lebanon — and created an energy crisis as Iran retaliated by essentially closing shipping traffic along the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil export route.

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The U.S. responded with a naval blockade of Iranian ports.

Among the key points in the memorandum are the reopening of the strait, a controversial $300-billion plan for Iran’s “reconstruction,” and the U.S. terminating “all types of sanctions” on Iran.

Negotiations for other issues, most notably Tehran’s nuclear capabilities, will reportedly begin in Switzerland as early as Friday.

Here is the latest on the war in the Middle East on Thursday:

Swiss resort will host talks implementing U.S.-Iran deal: Swiss officials

The Swiss foreign ministry confirmed Thursday that the “initial negotiations” on implementing a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding were planned to take place at a Swiss ultra-luxe resort complex on Friday.

“Currently, the plan remains for the United States and Iran, along with the mediators Pakistan and Qatar and other involved countries, to meet tomorrow at the Burgenstock for initial negotiations on the implementation of the agreement,” the Swiss foreign ministry said, per AFP.

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The announcement lifted a veil of uncertainty that had hung over the meeting at the Burgenstock luxury hotel complex near Lucerne in central Switzerland, initially announced on Tuesday.

At the time, it had been billed as a signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding agreed by the U.S. and Iran to end the Middle East war.

But the signing was unexpectedly moved forward, with U.S. President Donald Trump laying down his signature on Wednesday at a candlelit dinner outside Paris, as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed remotely.

Iran’s chief negotiator, Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and U.S. Vice President JD Vance were expected to take part in the discussions to flesh out the details of the deal, but the Swiss said they could provide no further information on the agenda.

Iranian president signs interim agreement

Iranian state media on Thursday released images of President Masoud Pezeshkian signing the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of Iran.

In a post on X, Pezeshkian shared the text of the memorandum of understanding, calling it a “historical document and a message from a powerful Iran: Peace will be realized in the shadow of mutual respect.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always been committed and steadfast to global peace while preserving its dignity and independence, as well as to progress and regional cooperation,” he added.

— with files from AFP

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