Iran live updates: Trump signs memorandum while at Versailles, White House says
Iran live updates: Trump signs memorandum while at Versailles, White House says
DAVID BRENNAN, NADINE EL-BAWAB and KEVIN SHALVEYWed, June 17, 2026 at 10:38 PM UTC
164
President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.
Following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, initial U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan in April failed to reach a peace deal. Trump later announced the open-ended extension of the ceasefire and the continuation of a U.S. blockade until negotiations concluded.
On Sunday, Trump announced that the U.S. and Iran had reached a "great deal." The memorandum of understanding was read to reporters on Wednesday, and the U.S. and Iranian presidents signed it that day, a White House official said.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday physically signed the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran that ends the war, a White House official said."On Sunday, the MOU was signed digitally by Vice President Vance and Speaker Ghalibaf and witnessed by President Trump. Now, it has been signed by President Trump and President Pezeshkian," a White House official said in a statement shared with ABC News.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump receives a tour of Chateau de Versailles from President of France Emmanuel Macron ahead of a dinner, June 17, 2026 in Versailles, France.
A White House official, along with another source familiar, said this signing occurred during Trump's dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday.
A photo of the signed document was sent to Iran and mediating countries, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Later, the White House released a video on social media of Trump sitting next to Macron and signing a document. The caption stated: "President Donald J. Trump has SIGNED the Iran Memorandum of Understanding at Versailles in France. "
However, the White House has not publicly released the document.
On Monday, a senior White House official said that both Trump and Vance had already signed the MOU, but the administration did not publicly release the document at that time, either.
The White House did not immediately respond to ABC News when asked to clarify the discrepancy.With Trump's signing, the agreement is "now in effect," a White House official confirmed -- which would mean that the Strait of Hormuz could open.The White House did not immediately answer ABC News when asked whether the strait is now open.-ABC News' Chris Boccia and Isabella Murray
Advertisement
After the details of the memorandum of understanding were verbally released by senior administration officials, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the war in Iran "will be regarded as one of the biggest American disasters."Trump "started this war, he didn't know how to finish it, and it looks like in too many ways he has just capitulated to the Iranians," Schumer told reporters outside the Capitol."When you look at the 14 points that the administration has agreed to, it looks like Iran has won on just about every one of them. Trump has done a very poor job of negotiating. We are worse off than we were when the war started," Schumer added.-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa
Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the memorandum of understanding has been "finalized" and will be digitally signed by the presidents of Iran and the U.S., in comments carried by state media. Baghaei said Iran plans to charge fees for the Strait of Hormuz and that a plan for managing the waterway has been "largely finalized with Oman."In a statement carried by the Fars News agency, Baghaei said that the 60-day negotiating period is "reasonable" and could be extended if necessary, and said Iran plans to negotiate "on the nuclear issue and sanctions."He said transferring enriched nuclear material out of Iran "is unacceptable to us."He also highlighted the inclusion of Lebanon, saying the ceasefire and the end of the war there "are as important as for Iran."
President Donald Trump said the 60-day negotiating period is not a hard deadline for Iran, and that it could possibly take longer."Just as long as they're behaving, I really don't care that much," Trump told reporters shortly after touching down in Paris. Trump was asked to clarify his comments about allowing Iran to have ballistic missiles, to which he doubled down and said, "if other countries have them, it's a little bit unfair for [Iran] not to have some." "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," Trump said. Asked how long the U.S. military will remain in the Gulf, Trump said they "haven't thought of it."-ABC News' Emily Chang
President Donald Trump said he "might" stay in Europe for the signing of the memorandum of understanding with Iran on Friday, but he wasn't sure whether that document is the "one I should be signing," suggesting the finalized deal might be what he should appear publicly for. "This is a memorandum of understanding, it's very important, but it might not be the kind of a document that I should be signing," Trump said during a press conference at the G7. "We're going to most likely sign a deal. They want to sign a deal. And they've been acting very appropriately," Trump said.The president left the door open to future bombing on Iran if the regime didn't properly adhere to the agreement."If it doesn't get done in 60 days, it's all right. We go back to bombing. I don't want to do that because it's so good. But, we might have to because we're never going to let them have a nuclear weapon, but they've agreed not to. And you'll see that very clearly in the agreement," Trump said.
A senior Trump administration official has read a transcript of the memorandum of understanding that the U.S. signed with Iran to reporters. Officials have not released the text or the agreement. It was read as follows:Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran has jointly agreed in good faith on such and such a date on the following1. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran and their allies in the current war, by signing this mou declare the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and undertake from now on not to initiate any war or any military operation against each other, and to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other, and ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon. The final deal will confirm the permanent termination of the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon and other provisions of this paragraph.2. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran undertake to respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and to refrain from interfering in each other's internal affairs.3. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran commit to negotiating and achieving the final deal in maximum 60 days extendable with mutual consent.4. Immediately upon the signing of this MOU, the United States of America will begin the removal of its naval blockade and any disturbances or impediments against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and will fully end the naval blockade within 30 days. During this period, the traffic of vessels will be in proportion to the numbers of pre-war traffic being restored by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America further undertakes to remove its forces from the proximity of the Islamic Republic of Iran within 30 days after the final deal,5. Upon the signing of this MOU, the Islamic Republic of Iran will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days only from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa. The traffic of commercial vessels will immediately start, and considering the need for removing the technical and military obstacles and demining by the Islamic Republic of Iran will be instated within 30 days. The Islamic Republic of Iran will conduct dialog with the Sultanate of Oman to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz in discussion with other Persian Gulf littoral states in line with the applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz6. The United States of America undertakes with regional partners to develop a definitive, mutually agreed plan with at least USD 300 billion for the reconstruction and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The mechanism for the implementation of this plan will be finalized as part of a final deal within 60 days. All required licenses, waivers, and permissions needed for the relevant financial transactions will be granted by the United States of America.7. The United States of America undertakes to terminate all types of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the United Nations Security Council resolutions, i.e.IAEA Board of Governors resolutions, and all unilateral US sanctions, primary and secondary, in an agreed upon schedule as part of the final deal. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America acknowledge the critical importance of the sanctions termination issue above mentioned, and expressed their intentions to immediately address these issues in the negotiations in order to achieve mutual agreement on them.8. The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran have agreed to resolve the disposition of stockpile enriched material pursuant to a mechanism that will be mutually agreed upon in accordance with the schedule mentioned in paragraph seven with the minimum methodology to be down blending on site under the supervision of the IAEA. The two parties also agreed to discuss the issue of enrichment and other mutually agreed matters related to the Islamic Republic of Iran's nuclear needs, based on a satisfactory framework being agreed upon in the final deal. The final deal will confirm the provisions of this paragraph. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran acknowledge the critical importance of the nuclear issues above mentioned, and express their intention to immediately address these issues in the negotiations in order to achieve mutual agreement on them.9. Pending the final deal, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree to maintain the status quo. The Islamic Republic of Iran will maintain the current status quo of its nuclear program, and the United States of America will not impose any new sanctions, and will not deploy additional forces in the region.10. The United States of America undertakes that immediately upon the signing of this MOU, and until the termination of sanctions, the US Department of Treasury will issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products, and derivatives, and all associated services, including banking transactions, insurances, transportation, etc.11. The United States of America undertakes to make fully available for use the frozen or restricted funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran upon the implementation of this MOU. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will mutually agree on the procedures related to the release of these funds during the negotiations. Such funds, whether retained in the original account or transferred, shall be made fully usable for payment to any ultimate beneficiary designated by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America undertakes to issue all necessary licenses and authorizations accordingly.12. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree that an executive mechanism will be established to monitor the successful implementation of this MOU and the future compliance of the final deal.13. After signing this MOU and subject to the beginning of the implementation of paragraphs 1,4,5,10, and 11 of this MOU and the continuing implementation of these measures, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will start negotiations regarding the final deal exclusively on the other paragraphs.14. The final deal will be endorsed by a binding UNSC resolution, and then there's the signature page,
Following his comments on Tuesday that the administration was delaying the release of the memorandum of understanding text at the request of the Qataris and the Pakistanis, Vice President JD Vance told CBS News that the administration is now urging its release on Wednesday."Yeah, so there are some, frankly, diplomatic protocols that I don't fully understand. The Qataris and the Pakistanis, who have been helpful in mediating this agreement with the Iranians, they've asked us not to release the full text for a little while, that it'll come out at the latest on Friday," Vance said. "We're actually trying to push them to get it out today, because we want to tell the American people what's in this deal. It's fundamentally a good deal for the American people, but it's, it's also very simple, and I've also seen some, some misrepresentations about it," Vance said.
Asked about whether he wants Israel to stop bombing Lebanon, President Donald Trump told reporters, "I want Israel to be able to protect itself, but I do want them to use good judgment."On Tuesday, Trump said he was "not happy" with Israel's recent attack on an apartment building in Beirut. "Israel is fighting Hezbollah too long, and too many people are being killed, and you don't have to knock down an apartment house every time you're looking for somebody, because there are a lot of people in those apartment houses, and they're not all Hezbollah," he said."I suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah," Trump added.Trump added that he still enjoys "a great relationship" with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."Without me, there would be no Israel, because no other president was willing to do what I did. I've had a great relationship with Bibi, but now Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon," Trump said, of Netanyahu.
President Donald Trump said the U.S. "defeated" Iran in the first week of the war, saying the U.S. naval blockade on Iran was "100% effective" and Iran now wants to come to an agreement to end the war."They want to sign, they want to get back to a normal life. You know, we hit them very hard," Trump told reporters while speaking at the G7 Wednesday. "This is a memorandum of understanding, but it's a very strong one. This isn't just like a two-paragraph. This is a longer, pretty detailed memorandum that goes into a regular contract," Trump said.
President Donald Trump said the text of the memorandum of understanding with Iran announced earlier this week was not final, and that if he didn't like it, the U.S. would "go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head.""No, it's not final. It's a memorandum of understanding, and if I don't like it, we'll go back to shooting at them, dropping bombs on their head," Trump told reporters on Wednesday, during a bilateral meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on the sidelines of the G7 in France.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks during a bilateral meeting with Egypt's President on the sidelines of the G7 summit, in Evian, eastern France, on June 17, 2026.
He added, "If I don't like it, if they don't behave, we'll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head, OK? Because they misbehaved for 47 years."-ABC News' Fritz Farrow
Click here to read the rest of the blog.
Source: “AOL Breaking”
