US, Iran may sign peace deal electronically ahead of planned Friday ceremony: Report

The United States and Iran may sign their memorandum of understanding (MoU) to end the war as early as Wednesday through remote electronic means, according to an Axios report citing diplomatic and other sources familiar with the matter.

The report said the agreement could be signed remotely instead of during the in-person ceremony originally scheduled for Friday.

An earlier signing could also accelerate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, potentially allowing it to resume operations on Wednesday rather than Friday.

If the MoU is signed electronically, provisions related to the Strait of Hormuz would take effect immediately, and the US government could move to disclose details of the agreement publicly.

According to Axios, the Trump administration has faced pressure from pro-Israel conservatives within the Republican Party to reveal the contents of the deal due to concerns over possible concessions to Iran.

The report cited a source who said Iran had requested that the agreement not be made public until a formal signing takes place, rejecting suggestions that any delay in publication was linked to domestic political pressure in the United States.

Axios also reported that a senior administration official claimed the agreement had already been signed electronically on Sunday by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf.

However, a diplomatic source denied that any such signing had occurred. Another source familiar with the matter said the signing had taken place and that a "second signing" was expected.

The planned meeting between the US and Iranian delegations, led by Vance and Ghalibaf respectively, is expected to proceed regardless of whether the MoU is signed early.

According to the report, the meeting will focus on negotiations related to Iran's nuclear programme.