Will US-Iran 'End-of-War MOU' Be Signed in Geneva? US Cargo Planes Advance Team Departs

Amid growing expectations for an agreement on an "end-of-war memorandum of understanding (MOU)" between the United States and Iran, plans are reportedly underway to hold the MOU signing ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland.

If the agreement is finalized, an advance team has reportedly already departed for Geneva to support U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who will lead the signing ceremony for the MOU, which is expected to be named the "Islamabad Accord." Last-minute coordination is underway to set the schedule for the ceremony.

U.S. online media outlet Axios reported on June 11, local time, that four U.S. Air Force C-17 transport aircraft headed to Europe on that day.

The move is intended to transport related equipment in preparation for Vice President Vance's potential attendance at the signing ceremony with Iran.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that an agreement with Iran was imminent, stating that the signing ceremony could take place in Europe over the weekend, and that Vice President Vance, rather than himself, would attend in that case.

According to multiple diplomatic sources from mediating countries and U.S. officials, a tentative agreement between the U.S. and Iran was dramatically reached on the night of June 10 through the mediation of Qatar.

Qatari envoy Ali Al-Thawadi reportedly visited Tehran to coordinate differences with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and paved the way for the deal by holding multiple phone calls with Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

The tentative proposal drafted this way reportedly includes extending the ceasefire for 60 days, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and easing sanctions on Iran as a corresponding measure.

Under the plan, vessel traffic in the strait would be restored to pre-war levels within 30 days without charging transit fees, and in return, the U.S. would lift its blockade.

After the reopening of the strait, Iran would be temporarily allowed to sell crude oil for 60 days, and if subsequent negotiations proceed smoothly, the sanctions relief measures would be expanded.

During the ceasefire period, follow-up negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program will take place.

While the tentative agreement reached so far includes a basic framework for handling Iran's enriched uranium, specific measures regarding the nuclear program are expected to be addressed in a detailed agreement.

It is also expected to include a commitment that Iran will not possess nuclear weapons and will resolve the enriched uranium issue. A senior U.S. official said President Trump has agreed to a plan to dilute highly enriched uranium within Iran under United Nations supervision.

However, it remains unclear what specific details are included regarding the release of frozen assets, which Iran has strongly demanded.

Iran has insisted on receiving a certain amount upfront immediately upon signing the agreement, leading to speculation that the U.S. may have partially accepted this condition to narrow their differences.

While some express concern that the frozen assets issue might be handled through a secret side agreement, a U.S. official dismissed this possibility to Axios.

According to U.S. officials and mediating sources, the U.S., Iran, and Qatar recently discussed a plan for Iran to use a portion of its frozen funds in Qatar to purchase humanitarian goods.

According to Axios, both the U.S. and Iran have agreed on the wording of the agreement.

While senior Iranian officials have accepted it, final approval from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has reportedly not yet been granted.

A diplomatic source from a mediating country said, "We are working with the parties involved to carry out final coordination for signing the agreement and are making efforts to schedule the signing ceremony."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.