The President of the United States, Donald Trump, signed a memorandum of understanding for peace in the Middle East on Wednesday June 17 during a dinner in Versailles, given at the end of three days of G7 discussions in Évian-les-Bains. He was surrounded by Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron, but also heads of French and American diplomacy.
A signature under the gold of Versailles, followed by applause and “bravos”. On the evening of Wednesday June 17, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, signed a peace memorandum putting an end to hostilities in Iran and the region, during a dinner in Versailles with Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron.
A White House official subsequently published a video on X where we see the Republican signing the agreement alongside Emmanuel Macron, with a thumbs up and a smile on his lips. The President of the Republic also applauded his counterpart and said a few “bravos” after the signing.
Behind the table where the two heads of state and Brigitte Macron are sitting, the head of American diplomacy, Marco Rubio, observed the signing, before recovering the signed paper. At his side, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, joined in the applause.
A “surprise” signature
The day after the signing, this Thursday, June 18, the Minister of the Economy, Roland Lescure, clarified on RTL that no one knew in advance that Donald Trump would sign the agreement with Iran during the dinner in Versailles, which took place at the end of three days of G7 discussions in Évian-les-Bains.
“There was first a formal speech by the president who welcomed Donald Trump and mentioned the 250 years [de l’indépendance des États-Unis, NDLR]. The President of the United States thanked for the G7 and for the dinner, then, as part of his speech, said: ‘besides I have a good agreement with Iran, I am going to sign it'”, said the minister.
“We saw Marco Rubio get up, literally, go and get the MOU (memorandum of understanding) and come back,” he continued, before adding: “I think that President Trump had informed Emmanuel Macron just before, but at least for us, ministers of the French government, it was a surprise!”
“It shows the diplomatic role that was played by France and the President of the Republic and I think we should be happy about it,” added Minister Delegate for Europe Benjamin Haddad on France 2.
A “moment of peace”
At the microphone of BFMTV, Emmanuel Macron declared after the Versailles dinner that this signing was “a moment of peace”: “This agreement allows an end to the conflict, it allows peace and the reopening of Hormuz, without toll”. He added that Versailles is a “place that inspires.”
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for its part, confirmed having signed this agreement.
The text of the memorandum of understanding concluded between the United States and Iran notably includes the dilution of Iranian uranium stocks, the lifting of sanctions targeting Tehran and the resumption of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
This memorandum of understanding must still be formally signed but, according to information from Axios and AFP, the United States and Iran initially commit to “an immediate and permanent cessation of military activities on all fronts, including in Lebanon”, upon signature.
The final agreement, which must be concluded within a maximum period of 60 days, “will confirm the permanent end of the war on all fronts”.
