“We’re going to bomb the hell out of them if they violate the agreement…I don’t want them to. I want them to honor the agreement,” Trump said at a press conference after formally signing the accord at the Palace of Versailles in France.
The US and Iran signed the interim agreement that outlines a framework to end the West Asia war that began on February 28, when Israeli and US strikes on Iran triggered a broader regional conflict.
Key obligations
While the deal halts hostilities and opens the door to negotiations on a final settlement, several key issues remain unresolved.
Under the agreement, Iran has reaffirmed that it will not develop or acquire nuclear weapons and will maintain the current status quo of its nuclear programme while talks continue. Tehran has also agreed to negotiate the future of its enriched uranium stockpile under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
However, the accord does not require Iran to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle centrifuges, or shut down nuclear facilities, leaving some of the most contentious issues for negotiations over the next 60 days.
A violation of the deal could include efforts to pursue nuclear weapons, expanding nuclear activities beyond current levels, obstructing arrangements for the handling of enriched uranium, or resuming military operations against the US and its allies.
The agreement also covers Lebanon, where both sides committed to the “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.” Any renewed escalation involving Iran-backed groups or fresh military action linked to the conflict could complicate implementation of the accord.
Iran had maintained a cautious tone in the last few weeks leading up to the deal’s signing. Iranian officials repeatedly said any agreement must guarantee an end to military action and respect the country’s sovereignty, while stressing that sanctions relief and the future of its nuclear programme remain subject to further talks.
