Trump signs Iran nuclear deal in hastily arranged Versailles ceremony
US President Donald Trump signed an agreement with Iran in a hurried late-night ceremony at Versailles on June 17, bypassing a planned signing two days later in Lucerne, Switzerland. The move came as Trump pushed for the deal to take effect immediately.
According to officials, Trump was about to have dinner at the palace when he told French President Emmanuel Macron and his aides that he wanted to sign the agreement that night. Macron quickly arranged for a ceremony, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio worked with French officials to print the document. Trump signed it just past 1 a.m. local time, calling out to reporters that the deal was done.
The planned Lucerne signing never took place. Vice President JD Vance, the lead US negotiator, postponed his trip after Iran pulled out over renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The agreement has faced criticism even from Trump's supporters, particularly over a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran, which some have called more generous than the Obama-era nuclear agreement. Trump defended the deal, saying Iran came to the table due to US military pressure.
Talks were complicated by delays in reaching Iran's Supreme Leader, who US officials believe moves frequently for security. A mid-air collision between a US helicopter and an Iranian drone in early June triggered strikes and counter-strikes before Qatari mediators helped narrow differences. Tensions rose again after an Israeli strike on Beirut on Trump's birthday weekend, which the US side suspected was an attempt to derail the deal. Iran nearly retaliated with ballistic missiles before Qatari negotiators intervened after 17 hours of discussions. Iran's condition was that the deal could not be announced on Trump's birthday; it was unveiled just after midnight in Tehran.
The full text of the 14-point agreement remained private for days, partly at Iran's request. Officials have described additional “understandings” outside the written document, a detail Vance downplayed, emphasizing verification over precise wording.
The deal sets a 60-day window for technical talks aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear programme, with Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner leading the US side. Senior officials, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, are reported to be among those doubtful that Iran will follow through.
