Electronic signing of the memorandum between Washington and Tehran

First round of talks to begin tomorrow in Zurich

White House: The next 60 days will bring challenges

Washington – Paris | BETH | B

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that a copy of the memorandum of understanding with Iran had been signed electronically during a ceremony held at the Palace of Versailles in France, attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron, as well as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed on behalf of Iran, while Pakistan’s Prime Minister also signed the memorandum.

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said the next 60 days would be filled with challenges, noting that the first round of detailed negotiations between the U.S. and Iranian delegations is scheduled to begin on Friday in Zurich, Switzerland.

Trump had reiterated on Wednesday that the agreement remains conditional, warning that military action could resume if Tehran fails to comply with its terms. He said: “If I don’t like what happens, we’ll go back to shooting at them and dropping bombs on their heads.”

BETH Analysis | B

After 108 days of war, escalation, sanctions, pressure, and military deployments, the crisis has reached the stage of paper.

But the paper is not the end of the road.

The next phase has only just begun.

While the electronic signing has given both sides an opportunity to step back from direct confrontation, the upcoming negotiations are likely to face a far more difficult test, as the transition from broad principles to detailed commitments is where agreements often stumble.

Notably, the White House itself is speaking of “60 days of challenges,” while Trump continues to remind everyone that military force remains an available option.

The question is not:

Has the memorandum been signed?

But rather:

Can the details withstand mutual distrust, domestic pressures, and the complexities of the nuclear issue?

The paper has been signed…

But the aircraft have not left the scene.

And the road toward a genuine and lasting peace in the region remains difficult and uncertain.