US and Iran discuss early electronic signing of Hormuz Strait memorandum before Friday talks

The United States and Iran are discussing holding an electronic signing of their memorandum of understanding (MOU) as early as Wednesday, moving up from the scheduled in-person signing on Friday in Switzerland ^{[1, 2]}. Both countries support reopening the Strait of Hormuz sooner and aim to accelerate the timeline for parts of the agreement to take effect earlier than planned ^{[1, 2]}.

If the electronic signing goes ahead, some provisions related to reopening the strategic waterway would be implemented before the original Friday date ^{[1, 2]}. However, Iran requested that the text of the MOU remain unpublished until the formal ceremony ^{[1, 2]}.

Regardless of any change to the signing date, the scheduled Friday meeting in Switzerland between US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf will still take place as planned ^{[1, 2]}. The meeting is intended to launch negotiations on Iran's nuclear program ^{[1, 2]}.

Iran confirms the option of an electronic signing by Presidents Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian is “on the table and is still being considered,” according to Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei ^[3]. He also noted no changes have been made to plans for the Friday meeting in Switzerland where the formal signing is expected to occur ^[3].

The US and Iran first announced their agreement on the MOU on June 14, aiming to end military conflict. The signing was initially scheduled for the Friday ceremony in Switzerland ^[3]. The region remains tense after US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran in late February triggered Iranian retaliation ^[3].

A senior US administration official told reporters the deal was electronically signed on Sunday by Trump, Vance, and Ghalibaf, but a diplomatic source denied any such signing had taken place before talks began ^[1].

The next concrete step is the planned meeting on Friday in Switzerland between US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf. They will sign the MOU formally if not done earlier and start nuclear negotiations ^{[1, 2, 3]}.