WASHINGTON, June 17 - A senior U.S. official told reporters on Wednesday that both Iran and the United States can choose to withdraw from a memorandum of understanding that is due to be signed on Friday, and that the immediate focus for negotiators will be on the exact sequencing of the actions set out in the preliminary accord.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official provided reporters with a readout of the 14-point memorandum that is scheduled for formal signing in Switzerland. The official said the meeting in Switzerland will be "critical" to determining whether the memorandum of understanding can progress into a comprehensive agreement.
"I think the meeting in Switzerland will be quite critical in order to really see how we get to the next phase," the senior U.S. official said.
According to the official's readout, the document consists of 14 points outlining steps to be taken by the parties. The official also noted that the version presented resembled a 14-point memorandum that had been reported earlier in the day by various media outlets.
The account emphasized two procedural elements: first, that either party may at any point choose to step away from the memorandum; and second, that the forthcoming talks are likely to concentrate on determining the order in which the steps previewed in the memorandum would be implemented. The official framed the Switzerland meeting as pivotal to the negotiation process, with its outcomes shaping whether the preliminary accord can be converted into a broader, more comprehensive agreement.
The official's remarks did not include further specifics about the content of the individual points beyond their number, nor did they provide additional timelines beyond the scheduled signing on Friday. Observers were told only that the sequencing of measures will be a likely topic at the upcoming meeting.
Contextual note: The official's statement centered on process and sequencing rather than on new commitments or detailed operational steps. The announcement stressed the provisional nature of the memorandum and the significance of the Switzerland meeting in moving negotiations forward.