U.S. and Iran to sign framework agreement in Switzerland
The United States and Iran have announced a framework agreement to end the war that began following a U.S.-Israeli attack on February 28. The formal signing is scheduled for Friday, June 19, in Bürgenstock, Switzerland. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi confirmed that the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, which had been in effect for two months, has been lifted as a prerequisite for the deal. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has already signed the framework electronically along with Iranian officials, stated that the agreement clearly prohibits Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Negotiations for a final agreement are expected to follow, though sources note that contentious issues like Iran's missile program and regional proxy support may be excluded from the initial agenda. Trump expressed intentions to submit the deal to the U.S. Congress and make the full text public to ensure transparency. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi cautioned that while the deal seeks to normalize relations, past experiences necessitate a measured approach during the upcoming implementation and secondary negotiation phase.