Versailles – 18.06.2026: US President Donald Trump yesterday evening signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Iran at the Palace of Versailles, ending a 110-day-long war. The conflict had begun on February 28 with a US-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran. In the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron, the agreement commits to an immediate ceasefire and sets a 60-day deadline for further negotiations on key issues such as Iran’s nuclear program. Key points include the end of all military operations, the lifting of sanctions against Iran, and the establishment of a fund with a volume of 300 billion US dollars for the reconstruction and economic development of the country. In return, Iran reaffirmed its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons and intends to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important shipping route.
Despite the agreement, Trump faces criticism within his support base, as the terms are far from his original demand for an “unconditional surrender” of Iran. A formal signing ceremony is planned in Geneva. In his speech, Trump controversially stated that it was “unreasonable” to deny Iran ballistic missiles while other nations possess them. The war claimed the lives of 13 US soldiers and left hundreds injured.
At the same time, Gabriel Attal, former French Prime Minister and current leader of the centrist party Renaissance, announced his candidacy for the 2027 presidential election. In a symbolic manner, the 37-year-old chose the rural village of Mur-de-Barrez for his announcement to distance himself from the urban elite. Attal aims to unite the center-left parties while distancing himself from the unpopular record of his predecessor Emmanuel Macron. He emphasizes a centrist and pro-European orientation of his political vision, which he summarizes under the term “Attalism.”
Attal has already presented four key program points: education, salaries, borders, and artificial intelligence. In the education sector, he places special emphasis on restoring the authority of teachers and the well-being of students. He also plans salary increases and stricter border security measures to strengthen France as a significant European power.
With regard to political strategy within the central bloc, Attal proposed a joint candidacy for the 2027 presidential election. For the upcoming “Committee for Connections” on June 10, he announced new proposals, including a timetable for primaries to promote consensus on a single candidate.
These events mark a significant turning point in French domestic and global politics. The coming weeks will show how the political landscape within France and in international relations will further develop and what role these developments will play in the run-up to the elections.