WASHINGTON — A deal to end the war between the US and Iran is expected to be signed within the next 48 hours, possibly “remotely,” and may not necessarily require a formal ceremony in Switzerland on Friday, a senior US official told The Post.
“There’s talk right now about maybe just having it signed remotely, and then either way we’re meeting Friday,” the official said. “We’re going to be going through the details.”
US and Iranian officials had been planning to officially sign the document in a ceremony in Geneva on June 19. President Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf electronically signed it Monday.
With the agreement, the Strait of Hormuz, through which between one-fifth and one-quarter of the world’s seaborne oil passes, will be reopened and an immediate cease-fire will begin in the region — including Lebanon.
The US naval blockade against Iran, which has been in place since mid-April, will also be ended and ships eventually withdrawn from the region within 30 days.
And the US will waive sanctions on Iran so that it and other Persian Gulf nations can “pump oil like crazy,” the official noted.
The Memorandum of Understanding is seen as a “political document” and a starting point for negotiations during a 60-day period for eliminating its nuclear weapons program and establishing a $300 billion reconstruction fund for the Middle East nation after the war.
“We’re going to give you all your frozen funds; we’re going to release all the sanctions, but we’re not doing it for free,” the official added.
Critics have said leaked drafts of the MOU provide concessions that do let Iran maintain its nuclear ambitions — as well as its terror proxies — but even some of the most hawkish Republicans in Congress have initially defended the deal.
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After speaking with US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said “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.”
“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,” he added.
“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.”
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Trump traveled to Geneva earlier this week for the annual G7 summit with European leaders but didn’t commit to sticking around for the signing ceremony.
“It’s very important, but it might not be the kind of a document that I should be signing,” he told reporters at a news conference Wednesday.
“This way, if it works out, I’m going to take the credit. If it doesn’t work out, I’m blaming JD. You better be careful, JD,” Trump joked.
Graham had also earlier described Vance as the “architect of the deal.”
“We have an understanding of certain things without writing it, and if they don’t honor that, we’ll probably go back to bombing them until they honor it,” Trump also said.
“You know, it’s amazing what bombs can do,” he added.
