Switzerland says talks between the US and Iran are scheduled for Friday (19)
Initial talks between the United States and Iran are still expected to take place in the Swiss mountain resort of Bürgenstock on Friday (19), the Swiss Foreign Ministry said, after the countries signed a copy of the agreement.
"To date, the plan remains for the US and Iran, together with mediators Pakistan and Qatar and other countries involved, to meet tomorrow in Bürgenstock for initial negotiations on the implementation of the agreement," the ministry said in a statement released this Thursday (18), according to the Reuters news agency.
"No additional information is currently available regarding the schedule and details of this meeting."
The ministry told CNN on Wednesday (17) that the signing ceremony will take place at the resort overlooking Lake Lucerne, and not in Geneva as initially planned.
Around 2,000 soldiers will secure the site, and a no-fly zone over the Bürgenstock mountain will be imposed from June 18 to 20 to ensure security, the Swiss government said.
The United States released on Wednesday the official text of the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran over the weekend.
A senior US government official presented the document's 14 points, which detail measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, ease certain financial restrictions on Iran and establish expectations for addressing Iran's nuclear program in future technical negotiations.
Entitled "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran", the document was released after criticism that its contents had not been made public.
The memorandum should be formally signed on Friday (19), beginning a 60-day period for negotiating the final terms of an agreement.
Read the 14 points of the agreement between the US and Iran in full
The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran jointly agreed, in good faith, on [__ date], to the following terms:
1 - The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as their allies in the current war, sign this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to declare the immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, and undertake, from now on, not to initiate any war or military operation against each other, as well as to refrain from threats or the use of force between them, guaranteeing the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Lebanon. The final agreement will confirm the permanent end of the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, in addition to other provisions set out in this paragraph.
2 - The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran undertake to mutually respect their sovereignty and territorial integrity and not to interfere in each other's internal affairs.
3 - The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran undertake to negotiate and conclude a final agreement within a maximum period of 60 days, extendable by mutual consent.
4 - Immediately upon signing this Memorandum of Understanding, the United States will begin the withdrawal of its naval blockade and any disruptions or impediments imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran, committing to completely end the naval blockade within 30 days.
During this period, vessel traffic will be gradually restored by the Islamic Republic of Iran in proportion to pre-war levels. The United States also commits to withdrawing its forces from the vicinity of the Islamic Republic of Iran within 30 days of signing the final agreement.
5 - Following the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, the Islamic Republic of Iran will adopt all possible measures to ensure, for a period of 60 days, safe and duty-free passage for commercial vessels transiting between the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, in both directions.
Commercial traffic will resume immediately and, considering the need to remove technical and military obstacles as well as carry out demining operations, these measures will be implemented by the Islamic Republic of Iran within 30 days. Iran will also conduct dialogues with the Sultanate of Oman to define future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz, in consultation with the other coastal states of the Persian Gulf, in accordance with applicable international law and the sovereign rights of the littoral countries of the Strait of Hormuz.
6 - The United States of America, together with regional partners, commits to develop a definitive and mutually agreed plan, worth at least $300 billion, for the reconstruction and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The implementation mechanism for this plan will be finalized as part of a definitive agreement within 60 days. All licenses, exemptions and authorizations necessary for the respective financial transactions will be granted by the United States of America.
7 - The United States of America commits to ending all types of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, including United Nations Security Council resolutions, IAEA Board of Governors resolutions, and all U.S. unilateral sanctions, primary and secondary, in accordance with a schedule agreed as part of the final agreement. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America recognize the critical importance of the issue of ending the above-mentioned sanctions and express their intention to immediately address these issues in negotiations in order to reach a mutual agreement.
8 - The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it will not seek to acquire or develop nuclear weapons. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran have agreed to resolve the disposition of stockpiled enriched material through a mechanism to be mutually agreed upon, in accordance with the schedule mentioned in paragraph seven, with the minimum methodology being on-site dilution, under IAEA supervision.
The two sides also agreed to discuss the issue of enrichment and other mutually agreed matters related to Iran's nuclear needs, based on a satisfactory framework to be defined in the final agreement. The final agreement will confirm the provisions of this paragraph. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran recognize the critical importance of the above-mentioned nuclear issues and express the intention to immediately address them in negotiations to reach mutual understanding.
9 - Until the conclusion of the final agreement, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree to maintain the status quo. The Islamic Republic of Iran will maintain the current status of its nuclear program, and the United States of America will not impose new sanctions or deploy additional forces to the region.
10 - The United States of America undertakes that, immediately upon signing this Memorandum of Understanding and until the full lifting of sanctions, the US Treasury Department will issue exemptions for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives, as well as for all associated services, including banking, insurance, transportation and others.
11 - The United States of America undertakes to make the frozen or restricted funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran fully available for use upon implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will mutually agree on procedures regarding the release of these funds during negotiations. Such funds, whether held in the original account or transferred, must be fully usable for payment to any final beneficiary designated by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America undertakes to issue all necessary licenses and authorizations in this regard.
12 - The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree that an executive mechanism will be established to monitor the successful implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding and future compliance with the final agreement.
13 - Following the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, and subject to the beginning of the implementation of paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 10 and 11 of this document, as well as the continuation of these measures, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will begin negotiations on the final agreement exclusively in relation to the remaining paragraphs.
14 - The final agreement will be endorsed by a binding resolution of the United Nations Security Council.
Trump signs printed version of US agreement with Iran | CNN PRIME TIME
Source: CNN