TEHRAN/WASHINGTON/EVIAN, France – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, had digitally signed the memorandum of understanding between the two countries on ending the conflict, said Iran's Foreign Ministry early Thursday.

In an interview with state-run IRIB TV, spokesman for the ministry Esmaeil Baghaei said that the signing was originally scheduled for an in-person ceremony in Switzerland on Friday.

"But during the past 24 hours, we looked into this further and concluded that the better option is for the text to be signed virtually by the two countries' presidents," he added.

Baghaei explained that digital signatures by both countries' highest-ranking officials would raise "the costs of violating it".

He also noted that holding a ceremony is "not very appropriate".

Baghaei confirmed that the second phase of negotiations between Iran and the United States is set to begin in Switzerland on Friday, though he added that "we will have to see what outcome the parties will reach through mediators in the coming hours."

The spokesman emphasized that for Iran, a ceasefire in Lebanon was and is as important as the truce in Iran.

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Iran, the United States, and Pakistan early Monday announced the finalization of the MoU on ending the conflict in the region on all fronts, including Lebanon, following weeks of negotiations.

On Feb 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US bases and assets in the region, and tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, barring safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States.

According to US media reports, Trump on Wednesday signed the MoU with Iran.

The timetable was accelerated so as to reopen the Strait of Hormuz sooner than Friday, US media Axios quoted a diplomatic source as saying.

Another factor may have been the political pressure on the White House to release the text of the MoU, the report added.

'MoU, agreement takes immediate effect'

Writing on social media platform X on Thursday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said an MoU between the US and Iran has been electronically signed by the leaders of both countries and has entered into force with immediate effect.

Sharif said the memorandum was endorsed by him in his role as mediator.

The Islamabad MoU stipulates that Iran will immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States will lift its naval blockade as an initial step following the agreement's implementation, Sharif added.

"The signing of this agreement at the highest level of the respective governments demonstrates the commitment of both sides to a diplomatic resolution of the conflict," Sharif said.

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Pakistan, with the support of co-mediator Qatar, will host an official ceremony in Switzerland on Friday to commemorate the agreement and launch technical-level talks between the two sides, Sharif added.

Sharif also acknowledged the constructive engagement of the leadership of Qatar and commended the contributions of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt in facilitating the agreement.

MoU full text

On Wednesday evening, Iran's official news agency IRNA published the full text of the MoU.

According to the released text, by signing the MoU, Iran and the United States, along with their allies, will jointly agree to end the conflict and military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, immediately and permanently, and undertake from now on not to initiate any conflict or military operation against each other, refrain from the threat or use of force against each other and guarantee Lebanon's territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

It said, "The final agreement will confirm the permanent end of the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon."

Iran and the United States commit to respecting each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and refraining from interfering in each other's internal affairs, IRNA added, quoting the MoU.

It said Iran and the United States also commit to holding negotiations and reaching a final agreement within a maximum period of 60 days, extendable by mutual consent.

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According to IRNA, immediately upon the MoU's signing, the United States will begin to lift its anti-Iran naval blockade and stop any harassment or obstruction against the country, and will fully end the blockade within 30 days.

'US to strike again if Iran doesn't comply with MoU'

Speaking at the G7 summit alongside Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday, Trump threatened that the US would strike Iran again if Tehran fails to comply with the MoU.

"If they don't behave, we'll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head," Trump said.