Iran and the United States have finalized a ceasefire understanding following months of military confrontation and intensive diplomatic negotiations, with the formal signing ceremony scheduled for Friday in Switzerland, according to Nournews, an Iranian state-affiliated media outlet.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi announced the development during a meeting with foreign ambassadors and diplomatic representatives in Tehran, stating that the understanding was finalized on Sunday evening and would be formally signed on Friday at a location yet to be determined. The same day will mark the beginning of a new round of negotiations between the two countries toward a comprehensive final agreement.
The understanding, referred to as the "Islamabad Understanding" after the Pakistani-mediated talks that produced it, comes after what Iranian officials described as a difficult and compressed months-long negotiation process. According to Nournews, which has close ties to Iranian security institutions, the negotiations were divided into two phases due to complications arising from American and Israeli aggressions against Iran.
Phase One: Ceasefire, Strait of Hormuz, and Frozen Assets
The first phase focuses on ending hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, releasing Iranian frozen assets, and reconstruction efforts. Araghchi emphasized that the cessation of war across all fronts, including Lebanon, constitutes the most critical element of this phase. "From the morning of Monday, when the final agreement was reached, the end of the war was announced," he stated, though the formal implementation begins Friday.
The Iranian Foreign Minister stressed that the ceasefire encompasses the end of Israel's occupation of Lebanese territory. "Without the Zionist regime's withdrawal from Lebanon, the ceasefire will not be complete," he said, adding that any continued Israeli military attacks on Lebanon or occupation of Lebanese territory would constitute a violation of the understanding.
Diplomatic Maneuvering and Last-Minute Developments
According to Nournews and sources close to the Iranian negotiating team, the final 24 hours before the understanding's conclusion were particularly tense. Following Israeli strikes on Beirut's Dahieh district on Monday—described by Iranian sources as crossing "red lines"—Tehran was reportedly on the verge of launching extensive retaliatory strikes from multiple fronts. The negotiations were at risk of collapse until U.S. President Donald Trump intervened with additional concessions to prevent Iranian military action.
The most significant last-minute changes reportedly included the immediate lifting of the naval blockade against Iran—replacing a previously planned 30-day timeline—and explicit language ending military operations across all fronts including Lebanon, with emphasis on respecting Lebanon's territorial integrity.
International Reactions and Signing Details
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed to CNN that the understanding spans approximately one and a half pages, describing it as a "general framework" with technical details to be worked out in future negotiations. Vance indicated he would attend the signing ceremony, with the possibility of President Trump's presence as well.
From the Iranian side, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is expected to represent Tehran at the Geneva signing, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi, who spoke at the same diplomatic briefing covered by Nournews.
The understanding establishes a 60-day negotiation period for reaching a final comprehensive agreement, during which nuclear issues and sanctions relief will be addressed. Iranian officials maintain that their uranium enrichment facilities and stockpiles will remain on Iranian soil, and a compensation fund of $300 billion for Iran is reportedly part of the framework, according to details published by Nournews.
Regional and International Responses
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country played a key mediating role alongside Qatar, welcomed the development on social media, confirming that "peace has been achieved between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran." Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani also expressed support, thanking all parties involved in facilitating the understanding.
European powers including France, Germany, Britain, and Italy issued a joint statement welcoming the development as "an important step toward regional stability and global economic stabilization," while emphasizing that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu struck a discordant note, stating that the agreement was "Trump's decision" and that Israel would continue pursuing its own security interests. "Israeli forces will remain in 'security zones' as long as necessary," he declared, potentially complicating the understanding's implementation regarding Lebanon.
President Trump, writing on Truth Social, claimed the agreement was "now complete" and announced he had ordered the immediate lifting of the naval blockade, telling the world: "Ships of the world, start your engines; let the oil flow."
Iranian officials, while celebrating the development as a victory born of national resilience, remain cautious. President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized that "the final agreement has not yet taken shape" and that Iran "has prepared itself for all scenarios." The Supreme National Security Council Secretariat, in a formal statement reported by Nournews, underscored that final negotiations would only proceed after verification of the other party's compliance with the current understanding's commitments.
The coming days will test whether this fragile diplomatic opening can translate into lasting stability in one of the world's most volatile regions.
Photo: Nournews (Iranian state-affiliated media)