Iranian officials tell the New York Times that Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will travel to Switzerland to sign the US-Iran agreement on Friday, in what would be the first official meeting between senior Iranian and American officials in 47 years, according to the sources. Tehran deliberately delayed the announcement until after midnight local time to prevent it from appearing as a birthday gesture for President Trump.
Iranian sources have provided a specific date and venue for the signing of the US-Iran agreement: Friday in Switzerland, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi representing Tehran. As The Zioneer reported shortly after 02:20, the trip would mark the first official face-to-face meeting between senior Iranian and American officials since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
According to the same New York Times-sourced report, Iranian officials deliberately waited until after midnight local time — past the start of President Trump's birthday — to announce the approval, to avoid the perception of a birthday gift. The announcement follows weeks of diplomatic signals that included the confirmation of an electronic signing on Sunday and Vice President Vance's acknowledgment that a signing could come within days or months.
The timing and venue remain subject to final logistical arrangements, and it is unclear whether the US will send a senior delegation to the same location or opt for a separate electronic signing.
7 developments
- StrongVP Vance says he and possibly Trump will attend US-Iran MOU signing in Geneva
- DevelopingDiplomat: US and Iran agree on deal text, Vance may fly to Geneva for signing
- DevelopingIran's deputy FM: US-Iran talks set for Geneva on Friday to set negotiation terms
- DevelopingPakistan foreign minister heads to Geneva for US-Iran mediation talks
Source and signal
- Internal intake