US President Donald Trump has said a landmark agreement between the United States and Iran could be signed as early as Thursday, while warning that Washington could resume military strikes if Tehran fails to comply with the deal’s terms.
Speaking after the G7 summit, Trump said the agreement would be signed “shortly” and indicated it could be finalised on Thursday in Switzerland, although he cautioned that the deal was “not final”.
Details of the proposed 14-paragraph agreement released by US officials show that Iran would commit to never developing a nuclear weapon, while both sides would work towards a broader final settlement within 60 days, with the option of extending negotiations by mutual consent.
The agreement also provides for the creation of a $300 billion fund dedicated to the “reconstruction and economic development” of Iran. However, the United States would not be required to contribute financially to the fund.
Another key provision calls for the “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon”, marking a significant de-escalation in regional tensions if implemented.
Despite expressing optimism about the deal, Trump issued a stark warning over the consequences of any breach.
“If they don’t behave, we’ll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head, OK?” he said.
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The agreement is expected to be formally signed in Switzerland on Thursday, with Iran’s foreign ministry indicating that the document could be signed directly by the presidents of both countries.
Trump has not confirmed whether he will personally remain in Switzerland for the signing ceremony, telling reporters that he “might” stay.
The US president has since arrived in Paris, where he is due to attend a gala dinner at the Palace of Versailles hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
His departure from the G7 summit capped a high-profile gathering during which he announced details of the US-Iran ceasefire arrangement and reiterated that military action remained an option should the agreement collapse.
If signed, the accord would represent a major diplomatic breakthrough between Washington and Tehran, while setting the stage for negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive long-term settlement within the next two months.
