‘Cost of violating deal will be higher now’: Tehran after Trump signs US-Iran peace deal
US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday (local time) signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) roughly four months after the United
US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday (local time) signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) roughly four months after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran in late February. Despite the two sides signing an agreement that will pave the way for further negotiations in a 60-day period, tensions continue to remain high. Esmaiel Baqaei, spokesperson of the Iran's foreign ministry, on Thursday (local time) said that when the presidents of both the US and Iran, Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian, had signed an agreement, the cost of breaking it will be higher, ISNA news agency reported. Quick answers to key questions • 5 QUESTIONS 1 What is the purpose of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding signed by Trump and Pezeshkian? ⌵ The memorandum of understanding (MoU) aims to end hostilities between the US and Iran, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and initiate a 60-day negotiation period to reach a final agreement on sanctions and Iran's nuclear program. 2 Why did Iranian officials state that the cost of violating the deal will be higher now? ⌵ Iranian officials indicated that with the agreement signed by both presidents, the consequences of any violations would be more severe, thereby increasing accountability and discouraging breaches of the MoU. 3 How does the US-Iran MoU differ from the previous JCPOA agreement? ⌵ The new MoU differs from the JCPOA as it is structured as a 14-point framework without specifying detailed commitments regarding enriched uranium or sanctions relief, while the JCPOA was a comprehensive agreement with defined terms.
4 Should the public expect a formal signing ceremony in Switzerland after the virtual agreement was signed? ⌵ There are uncertainties surrounding the scheduled formal signing ceremony in Switzerland, as Iranian officials indicated reconsideration of the meeting following the virtual signing of the agreement. 5 What are the key conditions laid out in the US-Iran MoU regarding nuclear weapons? ⌵ The MoU includes Iran's reaffirmation not to develop or procure nuclear weapons, but it leaves the details of uranium handling to be decided during the upcoming negotiation period. His remarks came after he noted that Iranian ships have entered ports without any issue and cargoes have also been unloaded from ports without facing any hindrance. The remarks came hours after the 14-point framework agreement was signed virtually by the two leaders. Trump, who was in Versailles during the signing of the agreement, told reporters, "I signed it in Versailles." The US President signed the agreement a day after he threatened to resume strikes in Iran if the latter failed to honour its commitment. Cost of violating the deal will be higher now: Baqaei The official signing ceremony of the deal was previously scheduled to take place in Switzerland on Friday. However, after the two leaders signed the agreement virtually, questions linger over the fate of the meeting which was to take place on Friday. Addressing the concerns over the scheduled meeting, the Iranian spokesperson said, “We concluded that the better option is for the presidents of the two countries to sign the text virtually, without the need to be present in a specific location.
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