The long-awaited agreement between the US and Iran was signed without waiting for the planned ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland. Donald Trump, who was in France for the G7 Leaders Summit, signed the agreement during a dinner held in his honor at the Palace of Versailles, and footage of the moment was shared on the White House's social media accounts.
On the Iranian side, it was announced that the agreement was signed by President Masoud Pezeshkian. Pakistan’s President Shahbaz Sharif, acting as mediator, also confirmed the signing and thanked Turkey for its role and contribution.
While it remains uncertain whether a ceremony will be held in Switzerland following the leaders' signatures, the US media criticized the 14-article agreement for prioritizing Iran’s interests, targeting the Trump administration.
Expectations Not Met
Comments suggest that the agreed clauses are far from the strategic goals expressed by President Trump and senior US officials since the start of the war, raising the question, "Then why was the war fought?" Follow our news on Google to get the latest updates instantly.
Washington launched the war against Iran on February 28 with the aim of completely dismantling the country’s nuclear program, destroying its ballistic missile infrastructure, and permanently cutting off funding to regional proxy forces like Hezbollah. Trump even stated that regime change in Tehran would be the best possible outcome.
However, the process did not proceed as expected for the US and Israel.
Return to Pre-War Status
Shortly after the agreement, Trump told the Wall Street Journal, "Regime change never mattered to me. The current Iranian leadership is the most rational group we've dealt with so far," a statement that shocked his allies.
When entering the war, Trump had declared that Iran’s nuclear program would be completely eliminated and uranium enrichment would be zeroed out. However, the Islamabad Agreement preserves Iran’s current nuclear status. The future of uranium stockpiles remains open to negotiation. The only US gain is the clause confirming that "Iran will not develop nuclear weapons," but this was already Tehran’s stated position before the war.
Missiles and Proxy Forces
The goal of "eliminating Iran’s missile program," presented as a key condition for regional security especially by Israel, was absent from the 14-article text. Iran retained its missile technology at the negotiating table. Trump even recently said it would be unfair to say "no" only to Iran while other countries in the region possess ballistic missiles.
Although the war began with the aim of ending Hezbollah and the Houthis in the region, the opposite occurred. The US was forced to sign a ceasefire that halted Israeli operations in Lebanon.
What Iran Gained
In addition to what the US failed to achieve, Iran’s gains at the negotiating table are notable. The agreement commits $300 billion in funds for Iran’s reconstruction, and as part of the final deal, all US sanctions imposed through the UN and the International Atomic Energy Agency will be lifted. Iran’s frozen assets will be released.
During the agreement process, the US Treasury will grant exemptions for Iranian crude oil, petroleum products, banking, insurance, and shipping sectors. Iran and Oman will negotiate the future of transit through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially shifting the pre-war status quo in Iran’s favor. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Kalibaf described the gains by saying, "We won the war. We defeated the US and Israel." Meanwhile, CENTCOM announced last night that the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has been lifted, marking the first US step after the signing.
Israel Dissatisfied with the Agreement
The US-Iran agreement has strained ties between Washington and Tel Aviv. The clause calling for a halt to attacks in Lebanon caused discomfort in Israel.
Despite the agreement, the Israeli army launched a drone attack yesterday on the town of Kfar Tebnit in southern Lebanon. It is reported that Israel has requested operational freedom in the area from Tel Aviv and held extensive talks with the US regarding its occupation in southern Lebanon.
Israeli Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli stated that withdrawing behind the UN-approved unofficial 'Blue Line' on the Lebanon border would be a "failure," and emphasized that Israel knows how to say "no" to the US if necessary.
Vance Targets Israel
The Iran-related tensions between the US and Israel are not new. Recently, tense phone calls occurred between Trump and Netanyahu, with Trump confirming criticism of Israel’s attacks on Beirut. The Wall Street Journal claimed dissatisfaction within the US is not limited to Trump.
The report noted that Trump told his close circle he was tired of Netanyahu’s constant demands for military intervention, and many officials believe Netanyahu is prolonging the war for domestic political reasons, causing discontent in Washington.
Yesterday, US Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized Israeli officials Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich by name in response to Israeli criticism of the US, saying, "You are a country of 9 million. You cannot solve every national security problem you face by just killing." He also said, "I find all this panic in Israel strange because I think it stems from insecurity."
