The US, Iran and the mediators are discussing bringing forward the official signing of the memorandum of understanding from Friday to this Wednesday, 17th, according to a diplomat and a source familiar with the discussions. Axios. However, another source presents information that conflicts with this scenario.
According to the diplomatic source, the signature would be electronic – due to the impossibility of meeting in person today – and would allow the Strait of Hormuz to reopen immediately. Other points of the agreement would also come into force and the US could release the text to reduce political pressure on the White House. No decision on the advance had been made as of this morning, according to the Axios.
Even if the memorandum is signed, the meeting between the American Vice President, JD Vance, and the President of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, would still take place as planned this Friday, in Switzerland, to discuss the nuclear agreement, according to the American news website.
The report from the two sources contradicts information from a third high-ranking source in the American government, according to which US President Donald Trump, Vance and Ghalibaf had already signed the memorandum electronically on Sunday. The source familiar with the discussions confirmed that this happened and that this would be a “second signature,” although it is unclear why two electronic signatures are necessary. The diplomatic source denied Axios that any electronic signature has taken place to date.
Waiting for the official signature to disclose the terms of the agreement would have been a request from Iran, according to the source familiar with the discussions, who denied pressure on the Trump administration.
