Leaked Draft Would End Fighting With Iran, Lift Sanctions, and Unlock Oil Exports

Saudi-owned Al Arabiya, in its English-language service, published what it said was a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States, a text that portrays Washington as conceding almost everything in exchange for little. The clauses were circulated by journalist Roy Keiss of Kan 11. The report says the arrangement would be tied to a final agreement approved by the UN Security Council.

Under the draft, Iran, the United States, and their allies would declare an immediate and permanent end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, and pledge not to attack, threaten, or use force against each other. Both sides would also respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and avoid interference in domestic affairs. A final deal would need to be reached within 60 days, with possible extension by mutual consent.

The text says the United States would lift the naval blockade immediately, restore maritime traffic within 30 days to prewar levels, and withdraw its forces from surrounding areas within 30 days after the final agreement. Iran, for its part, would quickly take steps to reopen commercial shipping between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, including removing technical obstacles and clearing mines.

The draft also calls for a comprehensive reconstruction and economic development plan for Iran, backed by at least $300 billion in financing, to be worked out within 60 days. Washington would end all current sanctions, including UN Security Council and IAEA Board of Governors measures, plus U.S. primary and secondary sanctions, and Treasury waivers would allow exports of Iranian crude oil and petrochemicals, along with banking, insurance, transport and related services. Frozen or restricted Iranian assets would be released, and both sides would keep the current nuclear status quo until a final accord, under which Iran would again say it will never build nuclear weapons. An implementation mechanism would monitor compliance, and further talks would proceed only after guarantees that the early steps in the maritime, oil, and asset provisions were being carried out.