Big news amidst Donald Trump's threats: US, Iran may sign agreement on Friday

New Delhi: Friday could prove to be a pivotal day in efforts to de-escalate the long-standing tensions between the US and Iran. According to reports, with the assistance of mediating nations, both countries may sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) remotely via electronic means today, rather than proceeding with the in-person signing ceremony originally scheduled for Friday. This development comes at a time when the US President has once again threatened to bomb Iran.

According to the Iranian regime, this shift would accelerate the agreement's timeline, allowing several key provisions to take effect immediately. In particular, clauses related to the Strait of Hormuz could be implemented right away, potentially yielding immediate positive impacts on regional trade and energy security. Additionally, the US administration would be able to publicly release the text of the agreement.

What is the reason for the change?

Diplomatic sources indicated that the primary objective of the change is to fully open the Strait of Hormuz before Friday—a move to which both sides had already agreed. A second key factor is the mounting political pressure on the White House to release the full text of the agreement. Iran had strictly insisted that the agreement not be published until the formal ceremony, but the White House has now flatly refused to yield to this condition. A senior diplomatic source stated that the push to accelerate the timeline is aimed at ensuring the Strait of Hormuz opens before Friday.

According to sources, the full agreement could be made public at any time on Wednesday. However, as of this morning, final consensus had not yet been reached on certain proposed amendments to the contract. The White House has declined to comment on the matter.

Crucial meeting in Switzerland on Friday?

Despite the change in timing, the schedule for the main meeting remains unchanged. US and Iranian delegations—led by Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Baqer Ghalibaf, respectively—will hold a face-to-face meeting in Switzerland on Friday. A detailed discussion on Iran's nuclear program is expected during this meeting.

The biggest contradiction in this entire episode concerns the event on Sunday. A senior administration official had claimed that President Donald Trump, JD Vance, and Mohammad-Baqer Ghalibaf had signed the agreement electronically on Sunday. However, several diplomatic sources have denied this claim, stating that there is no official record of any such signing. If the signing takes place today, Wednesday, it will be considered the 'second signing.' It remains unclear, however, why two separate signings were deemed necessary.

What Did US President Donald Trump Say?

According to Reuters, President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that the agreement reached with Iran on Sunday would be signed soon—either tomorrow or the day after. Earlier, he had stated that the new agreement with Iran had not yet been finalized. He added that if Iran fails to fully comply with the terms, the option to resume war would remain open.