Officials Announce Agreement After Ceasefire Strains

Officials announced an agreement on June 14, one day before a scheduled departure for a summit of major economies. The announcement came after a ceasefire showed signs of fraying and shifted attention to the location and timing of a formal signing.

The document had been expected to be signed electronically.

Instead, the signing took place during a dinner at the palace, where staff located a printer to produce a paper copy. A black marker was used on a white tablecloth after the meal. Iranian officials also signed their copy, and Iranian news agencies published images of the moment.

A luxury hotel complex in Burgenstock, Switzerland, overlooking Lake Lucerne, had been chosen for the next round of talks. The meeting was scheduled for Friday but was postponed after reports of military action against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Journalists waiting at Andrews Air Force Base and in Zurich were notified that travel would not occur that evening.

Iranian officials stated on Friday there was "no urgency" but added that a meeting would be held in the coming days. The venue had been selected for its isolation and security, and guests had reportedly been asked to leave to accommodate the talks.

“we are planning to hold a meeting in the coming days”