US and Iran Set to Sign Historic Peace Deal in Switzerland: What You Need to Know
Historic Peace Agreement Signing
Washington: Vice President JD Vance is set to head the US team for the in-person signing of a peace agreement with Iran, scheduled for Friday in Switzerland, as announced by President Donald Trump.
According to a senior US official cited by a major news outlet, both Trump and Vance have already signed the preliminary agreement electronically alongside Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
During a press conference in France on Monday, Trump confirmed Vance's participation in the signing event.
When asked about his own attendance, Trump remarked, "I may be involved, I may not be."
The full text of the Memorandum of Understanding is expected to be unveiled shortly after Friday, Trump indicated.
In interviews, Vance mentioned that the peace deal was digitally signed on Sunday, with plans to release the complete document later this week.
"We finalized the agreement digitally yesterday (Sunday)," Vance stated on ABC's Good Morning America.
The negotiations involved mediators from Pakistan and Qatar.
On Monday, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that his country would facilitate the signing ceremony in Switzerland on June 19.
The Hormuz Strait is anticipated to be fully operational by Friday, with priority given to large tankers to expedite the flow of oil and gas supplies, as reported by the senior US official.
"To clarify, it will take some time due to the presence of mines in the Straits. However, you will notice a marked increase in traffic in the Strait of Hormuz starting now, gradually ramping up over the next few weeks," the official explained.
The memorandum guarantees that the Strait of Hormuz will be "toll-free for 60 days," with hopes that this will be incorporated into the final agreement.
The Strait of Hormuz, situated between Iran and Oman, is recognized as a critical global energy passage, responsible for a significant portion of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas exports.