Trump personally signs Iran deal at Versailles in major diplomatic breakthrough

The U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed two days early and the deal takes immediate effect.

Nuclear talks remain ongoing after President Donald Trump signed MOU in a Palace of Versailles ceremony Wednesday night.

Coverage continues on Fox News on Thursday, June 18.

President Donald Trump returned to the United States on Thursday after a high-stakes G7 summit in France that culminated in the signing of a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding aimed at halting months of fighting and opening negotiations toward a broader peace deal.

Trump signed the agreement while attending meetings in France, while Iran signed remotely. The temporary framework calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, limits on Iran's enriched uranium stockpile and a 60-day window to negotiate a permanent agreement addressing Tehran's nuclear program.

The deal also includes provisions to ease economic pressure on Iran, including access to some frozen assets and the lifting of certain restrictions, while drawing criticism from some conservatives who argue the agreement offers too many concessions without requiring Iran to immediately dismantle its nuclear infrastructure.

The Trump administration has framed the accord as a major diplomatic breakthrough that reduces the risk of a wider regional war and stabilizes global energy markets. U.S., Iranian, Pakistani and Qatari representatives are still expected to meet in Switzerland to begin discussions on implementing the agreement.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said on Wednesday that he believes President Donald Trump received bad advice and that it is "not a good idea" to give Iran hundreds of billions of dollars as part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Middle Eastern nation.

"History teaches that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is not a good idea. I think the president is receiving some very poor advice on this deal," Cruz told The Hill.

This comes after the Trump administration released the full text of the peace deal with Iran, which includes lifting sanctions on Iranian oil exports and giving Iran access to a $300 billion reconstruction fund.

Other Republicans also criticized the agreement, including Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La.

"Reagan is rolling over in his grave. Iran’s nuclear ambitions were not curbed, and they have learned that threatening the Strait of Hormuz works and will undoubtedly leverage it in the future. Now, Iran gets to build brand-new infrastructure under this deal," Cassidy wrote on X.

"Before the war, the strait was open, Iran was being crushed by sanctions, and 13 service members were still alive. Now, 13 Americans are dead, families have paid billions at the pump, sanctions will be lifted, and the bombing has stopped. This is the worst foreign policy blunder in decades," he continued.

Pope Leo XIV hailed the new agreement between the U.S. and Iran to end the war in the Middle East, adding that he hoped for strengthened "mutual trust, security, and stability" in the region.

"I welcome with satisfaction the reaching of an agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, which will be signed on Friday, as an encouraging result of patient work in dialogue and negotiation. I express my gratitude to the countries that have worked to facilitate a meeting between the parties and to make this agreement possible," Leo, who has denounced the conflict since it began with U.S.-Israeli attacks in February, said on X.

"I hope that the agreement may help strengthen mutual trust, security, and stability in the Middle East, promoting paths of dialogue and cooperation among peoples," he added.

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said on Wednesday that President Donald Trump accomplished what experts previously believed could not be achieved in the war against Iran, after brokering an agreement to end the conflict.

"President Trump was very clear from the beginning about the mission here, which was to ensure that Iran would never have a nuclear weapon. They no longer have the ability to do that, and now they're signing on the dotted line, for the first time, that they won't pursue it. And we don’t need to trust them—we just need to verify it," Schmitt said during an appearance on Fox News' "Hannity."

"The president effectively knocked out their military capability. Their navy is at the bottom of the sea. They have no air defense. Their nuclear program is in shambles and nowhere near being restarted. And if necessary, we can always go back and mow the lawn because we've got eyes on it," he continued.

The senator added: "What the president has done is create space for diplomacy, which has always been his North Star. There's still more work to do, and we need to verify all of this, but he has accomplished something that most experts six months ago would have said was impossible. I think it’s a good outcome for the American people."

While the Palace of Versailles was the venue where President Donald Trump signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU), the moment continued the palace’s tradition as a setting for significant international diplomatic and political agreements.

The most famous is the Treaty of Versailles, signed on June 28, 1919, between Germany and the Allied powers, which officially ended World War I.

The palace also hosted diplomatic negotiations related to the end of the American Revolutionary War and the Franco-Prussian War, highlighting its long-standing role in international affairs.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency on Wednesday published images of President Masoud Pezeshkian after he signed the historic Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

“Pezeshkian Signs Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,” the agency said in a post on X.

“The President of Iran and the President of the United States signed the text of the memorandum of understanding digitally and remotely within a short period of time,” Tasnim said.

The agreement marks a significant step in efforts to formalize a framework for advancing negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday the newly signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iran and the United States was a positive step forward.

“President Trump signed tonight at Versailles the agreement between Iran and the United States,” Macron said in a post shared on X.

“This agreement paves the way for lasting peace and allows the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz,” he added before saying that the deal was an "important step in the right direction for our compatriots that will soon enable a decrease in energy prices." 

Iran and the United States agreed in a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that Iran's enriched nuclear material would stay inside the country and be diluted under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), according to reports citing a leaked copy of the agreement.

The Jersualem Post also stated that, upon signing the agreement, the United States and Iran would establish a mechanism allowing Tehran access to frozen funds and assets held abroad.

According to the text, the release of those funds would not be contingent on Iran first taking significant additional steps.

Articles 8 through 14 of the memorandum outline restrictions on U.S. military activity in the region and establish a framework for continued negotiations over Iran's nuclear program following the signing of the agreement.

The draft further states that the U.S. Treasury Department would issue waivers permitting the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and related derivatives. It also calls for the release of Iranian funds that have been frozen or otherwise restricted. 

Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino shared a video on X Wednesday showing President Donald Trump signing the Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Palace of Versailles at a dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.

According to Scavino, Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered the document for Trump's signature, formally putting the agreement with Iran into effect.

“Just prior to this evening's dinner at Versailles in France, hosted by President @EmmanuelMacron—President @realDonaldTrump signed the Iran Memorandum of Understanding, once Secretary Rubio received it…

The clip shows the president signing the document before guests applaud. Rubio shakes hands with Macron, who claps and says “Bravo,” as the secretary of state takes the document.

The agreement represents a significant milestone in ongoing U.S.-Iran diplomatic efforts and follows earlier electronic approvals by both parties.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Wednesday that talks between Iran and the United States scheduled for Friday in Geneva remained unconfirmed, according to reports.

His remarks came after President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU).

"The Friday meeting was confirmed until a few hours ago, but when it was decided that the presidents of the two sides (Iran and the U.S.) would sign the agreement, it was decided to pause consideration of the Friday meeting for now," Baghaei said, according to Reuters.

Commenting on the agreement itself and Baghaei said Iran's missiles are "only for firing, not for negotiation," adding that Iranians do not "like anyone talking about them."

"Iran's defense capabilities would not be discussed in any process or with any party," Baghaei said before stating that responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz rests with Iran and Oman.

Reuters also reported that Baghaei said the United States is committed to removing all obstacles to Iran's access to its frozen funds.

The most critical issue in imminent nuclear talks between Iran and the United States is how Iran's nuclear programme will be policed, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said Wednesday.

"The detail will matter," Prince Faisal told Reuters at a conference in Vienna hosted by the European Council on Foreign Relations.

"It will be most important to see the verification mechanisms that are put in place beyond the actual commitments on uranium enrichment, the actual commitment on the removal or downblending of nuclear materials," he said.

President Donald Trump has said he wants to remove Iran's enriched uranium. A senior Iranian official also told Reuters Iran had agreed in principle to dilute, or downblend it.

President Donald Trump's preliminary agreement with Iran is making its way through the media, but it still hasn’t made its way into the hands of lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Those who have read the reports are split on the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that the administration intends to finalize in a ceremonial signing on Friday.

Some say it’s a worse outcome than former President Barack Obama's Iranian nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Trump ripped up in his first term.

"Everything I've seen is, like, what's being reported by Bloomberg or the read-out on this thing is, we are giving a lot more to get a lot less than we got in the JCPOA," Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said.

"Now, I can't say that with an exclamation point on it until I actually see the memorandum, but every bit of reporting, thus far, says, we're giving a lot more to get a lot less than what we had before Donald Trump," he continued.

The schism on the MOU doesn’t follow party lines, either. "Reagan is rolling over in his grave," Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said on X. "Iran’s nuclear ambitions were not curbed, and they have learned that threatening the Strait of Hormuz works and will undoubtedly leverage it in the future.

Now, Iran gets to build brand-new infrastructure under this deal."

This is an excerpt from a report by Alex Miller and Morgan Phillips.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Wednesday voiced support for President Trump’s memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran, arguing an agreement could ease tensions in the Middle East and help restore stability.

The decsion came after Graham said he had a “very lengthy and productive discussion” with special envoy Steve Witkoff.

“After this discussion, it is my opinion that signing the MOU will be beneficial to the United States, in as much as the Strait of Hormuz will begin to open, and the hostilities with Iran will stop,” Graham wrote on X.

The South Carolina Republican said Washington's effort was worth it.

“Whether or not the United States can reach an acceptable, verifiable deal with Iran regarding its nuclear program and other issues is yet to be determined, but I see little downside to trying,” Graham said.

He added that reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and ending hostilities could have broader implications for regional peace.

“The economic stability that comes from opening up the Strait and the cessation of hostilities could create a pathway to peace well beyond the Iranian conflict,” Graham said.

A spokesperson for the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee responded to President Donald Trump’s warning Wednesday that the United States would “probably” bomb Iran if it failed to meet its deal obligations.

“Trump said: ‘If Iran's leaders don't improve their behavior, we'll go back to dropping bombs on their heads,’” Ebrahim Rezaei wrote on X.

“First of all, this means a violation of the first clause of the agreement. Second, although up to this point it has been Trump who has been forced to improve his behavior — including minimal control over rabid dogs, lifting the siege, and recognizing the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic instead of illusions of fragmentation and overthrow — if he thinks of bombs again this time, we'll turn his bases in the region into museums of admonition,” Rezaei added.

Trump also reiterated that military action remained a possibility after touching down in Paris.

“If they don't, if they don't come through, is it a threat that we'd bomb? You could call it whatever you want, but it'll probably happen,” Trump said.

Negotiations between Lebanon and Israel aimed at securing a ceasefire and border security arrangements could accelerate as Washington and Tehran move toward signing a deal Friday to end the war, according to reports.

The National, citing a senior official, reported that Lebanon is seeking to speed up the talks.

"Lebanon wants to rush and take advantage of the ceasefire in the Gulf to make progress on a de-escalation on the Israel-Lebanon front that will lead to an agreement on a ceasefire as soon as possible," the official said.

According to the official, Beirut's goals include an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the restoration of state authority through the Lebanese Armed Forces, while ensuring Hezbollah does not reestablish a presence in the area.

A new round of talks between Lebanon and Israel is expected in Washington next week.

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said Wednesday that the "ceiling" to be reached in negotiations between Lebanon and Israel was a situation of "reciprocal security."

In a televised address, Qassem said the group rejects pilot zones agreed to in the U.S.-brokered talks between Lebanon and Israel, Reuters reported.

This came ahead of Israeli-Lebanese negotiations set for next week. Israel and Hezbollah have been at war since March 2.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun insisted his nation's talks with Israel, brokered by the United States and held in Washington, were independent of the regional deal.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have since struck targets in southern Lebanon, killing at least five people, according to state media, with further Israeli raids in the region on Wednesday.

The IDF also reported Hezbollah rocket fire in the south.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he would be comfortable with Iran having ballistic missiles in proportion to other countries in the Middle East, drawing a distinction between conventional missile capabilities and Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

Speaking to reporters after arriving in Paris, Trump argued it would be unfair to deny Iran ballistic missiles if neighboring states maintain similar arsenals.

"I'm saying that if other countries have them, it's a little bit unfair for them not to have some," he said.

"A ballistic missile is not the same thing as what we're talking about when we talk nuclear.

"But if Saudi Arabia and Qatar and they all have some, I would say in relative proportion, I think it's okay. That's what I mean. Okay."

Trump then turned to the prospect of a new agreement with Tehran and the country's obligations under a proposed deal.

"If they don't, if they don't come through, is it a threat that we'd bomb? You could call it whatever you want, but it'll probably happen," he said.

Asked about the 60-day extension period for reaching a final agreement with Iran, Trump downplayed the issue.

"Just as long as they're behaving. I really don't care that much," he said.