Iran Reveals Draft U.S. Deal, Excluding Missiles and Proxy Forces

Iranian state media has published the outlines of a draft memorandum of understanding with the United States, even though Tehran says the text has not yet been formally approved. The proposal reportedly contains 14 points and demands sweeping concessions, including a permanent end to fighting on all fronts, especially in Lebanon, a U.S. pledge not to interfere in Iran’s internal affairs, and respect for Iranian sovereignty.

The draft also calls for major military and maritime changes. It seeks the lifting of the naval blockade within 30 days, the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iran’s vicinity, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days under Iranian arrangements and responsibility. On the economic side, Iran wants sanctions on oil and petrochemical sales suspended, full access to its financial resources, and a reconstruction plan for Iran worth at least $300 billion, to be funded by the United States and its allies.

The proposal further demands the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian funds during the talks, with half of that amount available before substantive negotiations begin. According to the Iranian outline, the final negotiations would last 60 days, with an option to extend by another 60, and would focus only on the nuclear issue and lifting U.S. primary and secondary sanctions, alongside canceling relevant UN Security Council and IAEA Board of Governors resolutions. Iran says it would reaffirm its NPT commitment not to build nuclear weapons and accept a monitoring mechanism that would ultimately be endorsed by the UN Security Council.

During the interim period, the United States would not add forces to the region or impose new sanctions. Tehran says the talks cannot begin until those preliminary steps are implemented, and that ballistic missiles and support for resistance groups have been permanently removed from the agenda. The memorandum also reportedly includes an Iranian pledge to hand over enriched uranium above 3.75 percent, renounce long-term enrichment, and forgo any path to nuclear weapons, while the Strait of Hormuz would reopen fully when the deal is signed. The only unresolved issue is Lebanon, where Washington is open to a ceasefire that still leaves Israel freedom of action, while Iran demands a complete ceasefire with no Israeli operational room. Israeli officials, who had demanded any deal address nuclear activity, ballistic missiles and proxy groups, are hoping Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei will block the agreement, but believe Israel has little ability to affect the 60-day negotiating window.