Iran War Ceasefire Takes Effect after Trump and Pezeshkian Sign 14-Point Memorandum
US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a memorandum of understanding to end the Iran war that began on 28 February 2026. [1] The agreement extends an earlier ceasefire announced in April by another 60 days and sets the stage for further negotiations. [3]
Signing of the Interim Ceasefire Memorandum
US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian digitally signed the memorandum of understanding in English and Farsi. [3] An initial phase of the agreement was signed on Sunday by US Vice President JD Vance and Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, with President Trump witnessing the event. [1] Trump signed the document at the Palace of Versailles near Paris while attending the G7 Summit ahead of a dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. [1] Macron shared a video on social media showing the moment Trump signed and stated, “This was not easy.” [1] Both sides now have 60 days, extendable by mutual consent, to negotiate a final comprehensive treaty. [1] Trump warned reporters that if talks failed, “If it doesn’t get done in 60 days, that’s all right. We go back to bombing.” [1] He added that renewed strikes would aim to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. [1]
Core Provisions of the 14-Point Agreement
The 14-point agreement calls for an immediate end to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon. [3] It requires the full resumption of maritime traffic “with no charge” through the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of the US blockade on Iranian ports, the waiver of US sanctions, the unfreezing of Iranian assets, and the creation of a $300 billion investment fund for post-war reconstruction. [3] Iran commits not to develop or procure nuclear weapons, reaffirming its longstanding obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. [3] The country also agrees to IAEA-supervised on-site down-blending of its enriched uranium stockpile. [3] The deal does not require Iran to surrender its highly enriched uranium or destroy its ballistic missile program. [3] Oil prices fell below $80 a barrel on news of the Hormuz reopening before partially recovering after Trump’s statements about possible renewed bombing. [3]
US and Iranian presidents sign 14-point ceasefire memorandum to end the Iran war. — Source: thenewarab
War Origins, Human and Economic Toll
The US and Israel launched the war on Iran on 28 February with strikes that included the assassinations of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other military leaders. [3] The conflict quickly expanded into a regional war that has killed more than 7,000 people, mostly in Iran and Lebanon. [3] Fighting has disrupted global energy markets, driven up oil prices and inflation, and raised concerns about food supplies in developing countries. [3] The memorandum extends the April ceasefire by another 60 days to allow negotiations toward a comprehensive treaty. [3] G7 leaders welcomed the agreement at their summit in France. [3] Trump gently rebuked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over tactics in Lebanon, while Israeli strikes and Hezbollah attacks continued in southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire call. [3]
Reactions from Nuclear Disarmament Advocates
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons stated that the outcome demonstrates nuclear weapons provided no strategic advantage to the US and Israel, which possess them, against a non-nuclear Iran. [2] ICAN noted that “Two nuclear powers attacked a country with no nuclear weapons, and it is the nuclear powers who have been forced to stop.” [2] The group pointed out that Israel remains the only Middle East state with an estimated 90 nuclear weapons and remains outside the NPT and TPNW. [2] Iran’s commitment in the agreement merely reaffirms its existing NPT obligations as a non-nuclear-weapon state under IAEA safeguards. [2] ICAN added that “nuclear weapons bought no security and no leverage; they only brought the US to the brink of ending a civilisation.” [2]
US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian sign 14-point ceasefire memorandum. — Source: incyprus
Implementation Challenges and Ongoing Tensions
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran will monitor US compliance “without any leniency” and will not fulfil its commitments if Washington fails to meet its obligations. [4] Experts expect nuclear talks to extend beyond the 60-day timeline because issues such as uranium enrichment, stockpiles, verification, and inspections require extensive technical work. [4] Several prominent Republicans, including former Vice President Mike Pence, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, and Senator Bill Cassidy, criticised the interim agreement and compared it to the 2015 nuclear deal. [4] In Lebanon, Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon could take months, and negotiations may last four to five months before broader regional issues are resolved. [4] Lebanese security sources reported continued Israeli air strikes and artillery fire in southern towns, while Hezbollah launched drone attacks that injured five Israeli soldiers. [3]
Use of AI in US Targeting During the Conflict
US forces employed Elon Musk’s Grok AI to strike over 2,000 targets in 96 hours during Operation Epic Fury. [5] The details emerged in a written declaration by the US Department of Defense’s digital and artificial intelligence chief Cameron Stanley submitted to the United States District Court, Northern District of Mississippi. [5] Stanley stated that the Grok Gov Model, which relies on derivatives of xAI’s commercial offerings, is deployed within Maven Smart Systems to support targeting, intelligence, readiness, and recruitment. [5] MSS workflows enabled US forces to deploy 2,000 munitions in just 96 hours. [5]
What to watch next: Iranian officials have warned they will watch US implementation of the memorandum without leniency, while experts anticipate that detailed nuclear negotiations will require more than 60 days and Israeli forces are expected to remain in parts of southern Lebanon for months.
