Leaked U.S.-Iran Understanding Appears Far More Concessional to Tehran Than Washington Claimed

Reports around the world have focused on a memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran, with many outlets portraying it as a defeat for Washington. The White House rejected those claims as fake news and said the text published in the media did not match the original. But on Wednesday evening, the final official wording reached newsrooms, and a close reading suggests the early reports about damage to U.S. interests were not only accurate, but understated.

The article says the agreement immediately ends all military activity on every front, including Lebanon, and requires both sides to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It also bars interference in each other’s internal affairs, which the piece says covers Iran’s missiles, proxy network, and domestic protests. A final deal is to be negotiated within 60 days, with extensions only by mutual agreement.

Under the text, the United States would begin removing the naval blockade and other restrictions on Iran immediately, complete that within 30 days, and later withdraw forces from areas near Iran after the final deal. Iran, in turn, is said to be tasked with ensuring free commercial passage through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days and with technical and military steps, including mine clearance, within 30 days. The article claims this means Tehran could later charge for maritime services and help control the strait with Oman.

The memorandum also calls for a reconstruction and economic development package for Iran worth at least $300 billion, to be finalized within 60 days, and says the U.S. will end all sanctions, including U.N., IAEA board, and American primary and secondary sanctions, on a schedule to be set in the final deal. On nuclear issues, Iran says it will not seek or develop nuclear weapons, but the text allows dilution of enriched uranium inside Iran under IAEA supervision, while leaving open further enrichment questions. Until the final agreement, the sides are to preserve the status quo, meaning no new U.S. sanctions or troop deployments and, according to the article, continued Iranian enrichment. The text also allows immediate U.S. authorization for Iranian oil exports, banking, insurance, and shipping, and says frozen funds and assets, estimated by the article at about $100 billion, would be released to Iran before it has made major nuclear concessions.