Iran said the memorandum of understanding with the United States has officially entered into force following digital signatures by both presidents.
Key Developments
- Iran says the memorandum has officially entered into force following digital signatures.
- Tehran highlighted that Lebanon is mentioned three times in the first article of the agreement.
- Nuclear issues and sanctions relief will be the sole focus of future negotiations.
Iran announced on Thursday that its memorandum of understanding with the United States has officially entered into force following the digital signing of the document by the presidents of both countries.
Foreign Ministry spokesman and member of Iran’s negotiating team Esmaeil Baghaei said the text had become final and official after being signed by both sides, adding that the decision to complete the process digitally eliminated the need for a formal signing ceremony in Switzerland.
According to Baghaei, the signatures of the two presidents give the agreement greater political weight and increase the cost of any future attempt to abandon its commitments.
Lebanon Mentioned Three Times
Baghaei placed particular emphasis on Lebanon’s role in the agreement, noting that Lebanon is referenced three times in the memorandum’s first article.
He said the text explicitly affirms Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and argued that the provision demonstrates Iran’s commitment to its regional allies.
“Iran has proven that it does not abandon its friends under any circumstances,” he said.
The comments came as Israeli attacks continued in southern Lebanon despite the understanding reached between Washington and Tehran.
According to Lebanese media, one person was killed and another critically wounded on Thursday when an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle near the Kfar Tebnit-Arnon junction in the Nabatieh area.
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Nuclear File and Sanctions Only
Baghaei said the memorandum clearly limits future negotiations to two issues: Iran’s nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions.
He explained that Tehran had decided not to negotiate the nuclear file during the recent crisis, instead prioritizing efforts to end the war.
With the agreement now in force, discussions on sanctions and nuclear issues are expected to begin within 60 days.
Baghaei said reaching results before the deadline would be positive but described the timetable as reasonable given the complexity of the issues involved.
He added that the period could be extended if necessary.
Missile Program ‘Not for Negotiation’
The Iranian spokesman also reiterated that Tehran’s defense capabilities remain outside the scope of any future talks.
“Iranian missiles absolutely do not like anyone talking about them,” Baghaei said. “They were made for launch only, not for negotiation.”
He stressed that Iran’s missile program and broader defense capabilities would not be discussed in any negotiating forum or with any party.
Baghaei said Iran has already observed early signs that implementation of the agreement has begun.
According to the spokesman, monitoring operations showed Iranian vessels entering and leaving ports without difficulty, which he described as the beginning of the US commitment to lift the naval blockade on Iran.
He said Tehran would implement its own obligations only after verifying that the other side had fulfilled its commitments.
“If the Americans create obstacles to implementing their commitments, we will do the same,” he said.
Baghaei also confirmed that Iran intends to charge fees for services related to navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and said arrangements governing the waterway are being finalized in coordination with Oman and other regional states.
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Pakistan Confirms Agreement
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also confirmed that the memorandum had entered into force following electronic signatures by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Sharif described the agreement as evidence of both sides’ commitment to a diplomatic solution and said its first practical steps include the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iran and the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
He also praised the mediation and support efforts of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt.
Meanwhile, Israeli media continued to express concern about the implications of the agreement.
Writing in Yedioth Ahronoth, commentator Ben-Dror Yemini argued that the agreement strengthens both Iran and Hezbollah and described it as a strategic defeat for the United States.
He claimed that Israeli concerns have intensified as more details of the agreement have emerged, particularly provisions linking developments in Iran and Lebanon within the same framework.
The agreement’s 14 provisions include a permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, and the launch of negotiations toward a final settlement within 60 days.
(Al Mayadeen, PC, AA, Israeli Media)
