Trump says Iran memorandum of understanding may still fall through ahead of planned signing in Switzerland
United States President Donald Trump has said a memorandum of understanding with Iran could still fall through, even as officials say a signing is planned for Friday in Switzerland. The proposed deal is described as a preliminary step intended to end fighting on multiple fronts, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin a 60-day negotiation period. Trump made the comments while attending the Group of Seven summit in Evian, France, and said the world would find out soon whether the signing would go ahead.
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Trump gave mixed signals about the timing, saying the signing might happen on Friday, but also suggesting it could come sooner, possibly on Thursday. He told reporters that deals can fail even when they appear certain, and said he thought the agreement would be done. In the same remarks, he warned that Washington would resume bombing if Iran does not "behave", underscoring the uncertainty around the process.
US officials have said the memorandum was already digitally signed on Sunday, but also indicated that both sides could still walk away before the final signing. The reported terms would lift the US naval blockade on Iranian ports and trigger immediate sanctions waivers for Iran's fossil fuel industry, according to a senior US official who read out 14 points on a call with reporters. Both sides have said the initial memorandum would not be a final settlement, but rather the start of talks on more difficult issues.
Those include Iran's nuclear programme, its support for proxies in the region and the future administration of the Strait of Hormuz. The fact that the agreement is still described as provisional suggests the most sensitive questions remain unresolved. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important shipping routes, and any change to its status can have immediate implications for energy markets and regional security.
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A reopening would matter not only for Iran and the United States, but also for countries that depend on oil and gas flows through the waterway. The mention of sanctions waivers for Iran's fossil fuel industry also points to possible economic consequences beyond the immediate ceasefire framework. That makes the timing and credibility of the signing especially significant for governments and markets watching the talks.
The talks are taking place against the backdrop of a wider US-Iran confrontation that has involved military pressure, sanctions and disputes over Iran's regional role. The memorandum is being presented as a first-stage arrangement rather than a peace deal, which means it would be followed by a 60-day negotiation period. That period is expected to cover the most contentious issues, including nuclear oversight and the future of maritime access through the strait.
The process therefore appears designed to reduce immediate tensions while leaving the hardest decisions for later. Iranian officials have also signalled that the format of the signing is still under discussion. One idea under consideration is for the presidents of both countries to sign the memorandum, according to the supplied material.
That detail suggests the ceremony itself may still be part of the negotiation, not just a formality. It also reflects the political sensitivity of any public acknowledgement of the deal on both sides. What remains unclear is whether the signing will happen on Friday, move forward to Thursday or collapse altogether.
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It is also not known whether the reported digital signing on Sunday will be treated as sufficient if the public ceremony does not take place. The key issue to watch is whether both sides keep to the provisional terms long enough to begin the 60-day talks, and whether the unresolved questions over Iran's nuclear programme and the Strait of Hormuz can be bridged.
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