PM says US, Iran have signed deal electronically; Iran to 'instantly' reopen Hormuz, US to 'immediately' lift blockade

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said early on Thursday that the ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding’ (Mo U) between the United States and Iran had been signed electronically by both sides. “The memorandum has been signed by honourable presidents of both the countries and also endorsed by me as the mediator. The signing of this agreement at the highest level of the respective governments demonstrates the commitment of both sides to a diplomatic resolution of the conflict,” he said in a post on the social media platform X. He added that the MoU shall “enter into force with immediate effect and as a first step, Islamic Republic of Iran will instantly reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the United States of America will immediately lift the naval blockade”. US President Donald Trump put his signature to the memorandum of understanding during a candlelit dinner at the Palace of Versailles following a G7 summit, as host French President Emmanuel Macron and other guests applauded, a video posted by a Trump aide showed. “Just signed it,” Trump told reporters as he emerged from the palace. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, quoted by the state news agency IRNA, said the document “was finalised with the signatures of the presidents”. PM Shehbaz’s post on X initially stated that Pakistan, with the support of Qatar, would host the official ceremony as scheduled on June 19 in Switzerland, to “commemorate this landmark event and commence with the technical level talks”. However, this was later removed while Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told IRIB’s ‘News Network’ that, because the two presidents had already digitally signed the agreement, “No signing ceremony will be held in Switzerland”. Hours later, the Swiss government said initial talks between the United States and Iran were planned at the Buergenstock mountaintop resort. ‘Peace only path to progress’ In his post on X, PM Shehbaz offered his congratulations to Trump, saying his