Key facts
- The U.S. military will maintain its current force posture in the Middle East during 60 days of negotiations with Iran.
- A memorandum of understanding was electronically signed by President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.
- The agreement includes Iran's commitment to never seeking or possessing a nuclear weapon.
- The U.S. military had amassed a significant presence in the region prior to the negotiations.
The U.S. military will maintain its current force posture in the Middle East throughout a 60-day negotiation period with Iran, according to senior Trump administration officials. This decision comes as President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf electronically signed a memorandum of understanding on Sunday.
Officials indicated that while a drawdown of forces is hoped for, it will not occur until Iran demonstrates compliance with its commitments. The agreement, expected to be released within 24-48 hours, includes Iran's pledge to never seek, buy, or possess a nuclear weapon. The U.S. military had significantly increased its presence in the U.S. Central Command (Centcom) region, deploying warships, aircraft, and thousands of personnel in anticipation of potential strikes against Iran earlier in the year.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that the military posture is intended to compel Iran to uphold its end of the bargain during the negotiation period. The deployment has included multiple aircraft carriers and hundreds of aircraft, alongside Army and Marine units.