Spanish diplomatic sources said that both sides had agreed not to reveal the contents of the agreement until after the foreign ministers concluded their meeting on the matter.

The crisis between the two countries broke out on June 11, when the usually uninhabited more 13 hectares islet was occupied by six Moroccan gendarmes who were later replaced by Moroccan soldiers. The Moroccan government said they were sent to prevent illegal immigration and drug trafficking across the 40-kilometer strait of Gibraltar. Perejil is one of a number of islands off the Moroccan coast claimed by Spain besides its two enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.

On Wednesday Spanish special forces occupied the island in a dawn raid and repatriated the Moroccan soldiers. Spain promised to withdraw its forces if Morocco agreed not to re-occupy it. On Friday, the Moroccan foreign minister pointed out that in the background of the crisis was the future of Melilla and Ceuta which Spain has occupied since the 15th and 16th centuries respectively.