CNN Begins Revealing U.S.-Iran Memorandum as Details Diverge Sharply

CNN has started exposing the outlines of the understanding reached between Iran and the United States, after several conflicting reports from Iranian media. The move came Friday evening, and President Donald Trump told Axios that Iran had apologized for spreading false reports about the deal. A separate Axios report said senior Iranian officials had agreed to the deal the night before, but that the Supreme Leader, Moghbta, apparently objected.

On the Strait of Hormuz, an American diplomat said the waterway would reopen. He added that Iran would not be allowed to collect transit fees from ships, but did not say who would police maritime traffic. Iranian outlets did not mention any transit-fee issue, which may suggest Tehran dropped that demand, but they insisted the strait would reopen under Iranian management, a condition Washington has repeatedly rejected.

A senior Trump administration figure said Iran’s nuclear program would be dismantled and that nuclear material would be destroyed and removed from Iran. Iranian media, by contrast, said Tehran would take on no new immediate obligations and would only enter 60 days of nuclear talks after signing, within its “basic principles,” including what it calls its right to enrich uranium. The diplomat said the agreement “meets all American demands” on the nuclear issue, including Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

The biggest missing issue in the diplomat’s version was Iran’s demand to release billions of dollars in frozen funds under U.S. sanctions, one of the main recent sticking points. CNN’s source said, “None of Iran’s money will be released until they fulfill their commitments.” Iranian outlets claimed the deal includes the release of $24 billion, with half available immediately upon signing, and also a $300 billion reconstruction fund meant to compensate for war damage, but neither the diplomat nor the American official mentioned such provisions.

Although Israel and Hezbollah are not direct parties to the talks, sources said the draft includes commitments affecting both sides, including a ceasefire that also covers Lebanon. The arrangement reportedly depends on Washington and Tehran using their influence over allies to ensure compliance, while Israel has made clear it will continue operating against Hezbollah and striking it if needed.