U.S., Iran Sign Memorandum to End Hostilities

2026-06-15

A senior U.S. official said on the 15th that the United States and Iran had both signed a memorandum aimed at ending hostilities. U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf signed the document, the official said.

The signing ceremony will be formally held in Switzerland on the 19th. Vance is scheduled to attend on the U.S. side, and the official said details of the memorandum are expected to be released within 24 to 48 hours. It is said to include the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the U.S. military's maritime blockade on Iran.

Normalization of passage through the strait will take time

Trump said on the 15th in Evian in eastern France, where he was visiting, that the blockade measures on both sides would be lifted after the signing ceremony on the 19th. However, mines laid by Iran remain in the waters, and the official said it would take more than two weeks before passage actually normalizes.

Asked about support from other countries for normalizing traffic through the strait, Trump told reporters, 'We do not need a lot of help, but it would not be bad to have a ship or two from several countries.'

Nuclear issue and sanctions relief in focus

The Iranian side claims it will continue to charge ships a 'service fee' even after the strait is reopened. In response, Trump told The New York Times that passage would be 'free forever.' The newspaper reported that the memorandum limits the free period to 60 days, after which the countries in the region will hold talks.

On Iran's nuclear issue, Trump reiterated, 'Iran will not possess nuclear weapons. That is the essence of everything.' On lifting sanctions on Iran, he said, 'If they do what they are supposed to do, they will begin to take effect.'

Regarding the confrontation between Israel and the pro-Iran group Hezbollah, he said, 'It should not be difficult. That is why we have to talk with Hezbollah.'

Trump announced an agreement with Iran on social media on the 14th. The Iranian side had also said the Supreme National Security Council had finalized the wording of the memorandum and would formally sign it on the 19th.

The senior U.S. official said detailed talks would begin later this week based on the memorandum. Vance will continue to lead the negotiations. The official said it would become clear over the next two to three weeks whether the current interim agreement will develop into an actual accord.

The U.S. side regards a plan to persuade Iran to abandon nuclear development as its top priority. The official said verification measures to ensure the nuclear program is not restarted will be 'the most important thing.' If Iran also agrees to stop funding nearby 'terrorist organizations,' the U.S. side is prepared to respond 'extremely generously' with sanctions relief and economic opening.

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