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Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday as mediator, completing the formal signing of an agreement between the United States and Iran to end their war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Sharif's signature followed electronic signing of the document by U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, according to a statement from the Pakistani prime minister's office
"The Islamabad MoU has been signed by President of the U.S.A. Donald J. Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian," the statement said.
Earlier on Thursday, Sharif announced that the Islamabad MoU had entered into force with immediate effect. In a post on X, he said the memorandum had been electronically signed by the presidents of both countries and endorsed by Pakistan in its role as mediator.
"Under the terms of the agreement, Iran will immediately reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. will lift its naval blockade," Sharif said.
The U.S. and Israel initiated the war on Feb. 28. Iran subsequently closed the Strait of Hormuz, and on April 13, American forces imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, making commercial shipping through the waterway nearly impossible.
Pakistan secured a ceasefire on April 8 and hosted the highest-level talks between the two nations on April 12 and 13, marking the most senior direct engagement since the U.S. and Iran severed diplomatic ties in 1979.
The two countries announced on June 14 that they had reached a 14-article agreement, which provides for an end to hostilities and the resolution of outstanding disputes through negotiations.
Following the signing, both parties are expected to enter a 60-day negotiation process on issues including Iran's nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions.
Initial negotiations on implementing the agreement are still planned to take place on Friday at the Swiss mountain resort of Burgenstock, Switzerland's foreign ministry said on Thursday.
"As things stand, the plan is still for the U.S. and Iran, along with mediators Pakistan and Qatar and other involved countries, to meet tomorrow at Burgenstock for initial negotiations about implementing the agreement," the ministry said in a statement, according to Reuters.
The ministry said no further information was available at this time regarding the meeting's schedule and details. It was announced on Wednesday that the signing ceremony would take place at the resort overlooking Lake Lucerne, rather than in Geneva as originally planned.
Switzerland said around 2,000 soldiers will secure the site.
A no-fly zone over the Burgenstock mountain will be imposed from June 18 to June 20, according to the Swiss government.
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