The United States and Iran are moving towards outlining a cooperation that goes beyond managing their differences and ending the war between them, towards a kind of partnership in putting an end to crises that have lasted for years and have been difficult to resolve.
This is what the memorandum of understanding signed by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian last Wednesday, June 17, 2026, suggests. It was reached on Monday, June 15, coinciding with President Trump's 80th birthday.
The official text of this rare memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran reveals a new American direction, which Washington and Tehran hailed as a "resounding victory." The Israeli government, however, was stunned and considered it a major disaster. Therefore, by intensifying its attacks in Lebanon, Israel is attempting to undermine what the Iranian and American sides agreed upon, both on their own behalf and on behalf of their allies.
But it seems unlikely that the US will allow Israel to sabotage the agreement, especially after President Trump stated that he is the one protecting Israel, and that without him, "it would have been wiped out." He added that the agreement is in Israel's best interest because Iran "will not possess or produce nuclear weapons."
Then Trump insisted on personally signing the memorandum, albeit remotely, taking advantage of his presence at the famous historic Palace of Versailles in France, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, who applauded warmly when Trump finished signing the paper copy, saying to him, "Well done, that's a great job."
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was sitting in his presidential office in Tehran, where he signed the agreement on the version bearing Trump's signature, but without either of them seeing the other, as if Iran wanted to deny its American adversary a joint photo opportunity after that fierce war.
Then, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the memorandum of understanding, with his country acting as a mediator supported by a large number of nations, including Qatar, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, and even Europe. The memorandum of understanding thus became effective on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, and is backed by strong regional and international political support. This support will be formalized and legally established once the US and Iran reach a final agreement within 60 days, a period that can be extended. The agreement will then be ratified by a binding resolution from the UN Security Council, as stipulated in Article 14.
Therefore, it can be said that Washington and Tehran are moving towards establishing a partnership that begins in the Strait of Hormuz and Lebanon, extending to the entire Middle East and global energy security, thus contributing to regional and international stability.
The immediate implementation of the memorandum of understanding began on June 18, 2026, when US forces announced the lifting of the naval blockade imposed on Iranian ports, and in return, Iran announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for free passage.
The US Central Command stated in a statement on the X platform, "Today, US forces lifted the blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas," clarifying that US warships "will remain in the region to ensure compliance with all provisions of the agreement."
A careful reading of the content reveals a crucial point: the memorandum's preamble speaks of a shared "good faith" between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. This phrase removes the language of threats and intimidation, establishing parity and equality between the two nations.
Furthermore, Article 1, which stipulated an immediate and final end to the war and all military operations or threats thereof, also clarified the parties to the understanding as follows: “The United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and their respective allies in the current conflict.”
Although the names of the allies were not explicitly mentioned, they are well-known. Israel is the United States’ ally in this conflict, having launched its attack on Iran on February 28, 2016. On the other side stood Iran and its axis, namely: “Hezbollah in Lebanon, Ansar Allah (the Houthis) in Yemen, and Iraqi resistance factions, considered Iran’s allies who fought alongside it.”
It is noteworthy that Washington’s agreement to use the term “allies” implies that it is also speaking on behalf of its ally Israel. It also represents a legal retreat from labeling Tehran’s allies as terrorists or describing them as Iranian proxies, and constitutes an acknowledgment of their role in the arenas where they operate, from the Mediterranean coast to Bab el-Mandeb and the Shatt al-Arab.
As declared by Tel Aviv andand Washington, one of the American and Israeli objectives in the war was to sever the relationship between Iran and its allies. Without achieving this, one of the war's objectives would have effectively collapsed.
Lebanon emerged as a cornerstone of the understanding, mentioned three times in Article 1, which addresses the end of the war and an immediate and permanent cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon.
Here, all parties pledged "not to launch any war or military operations against each other from now on, to refrain from threatening or using force against each other, and to guarantee the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon… The final agreement will confirm the permanent cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, in addition to the remaining provisions of this clause."
In response, Israel intensified its attacks on Lebanon to undermine the American-Iranian agreement, ultimately sabotaging it. However, it suffered heavy blows from the resistance there, particularly on Friday, June 19, when four soldiers, including a high-ranking officer with the rank of lieutenant colonel, were killed, and 17 others were wounded during an attempt to advance towards the Ali al-Taher area in southern Lebanon. In the wake of these heavy losses, Israel launched attacks that killed 47 civilians and wounded more than 100 others. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for Lebanon to be burned, prompting a response from Tehran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi accused Israel on Friday of seeking "perpetual war," in response to Ben-Gvir's statements.
Araqchi wrote on the X platform, "These are not the delusional pronouncements of an isolated genocidal criminal, but rather a public declaration by the National Security Minister of the Israeli regime."
He added, "This genocidal ideology, centered in Tel Aviv, poses a threat to all of humanity. It threatens all people. Its sole objective is perpetual war."
The Israeli attacks led to the postponement of the start of US-Iranian negotiations in Geneva last Friday. The US then intervened, announcing a ceasefire between the two sides on Friday. The American news website Axios reported that US envoy Steve Witkopf and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi were heading to Switzerland for talks. However, Israeli strikes that killed civilians in Lebanon on Saturday could test the new ceasefire, which is considered a prerequisite for ending the Iran-Iraq War.
The US-Iranian memorandum of understanding included two types of measures: immediate and urgent, and future and subject to negotiation.
These measures were outlined in Article 4, which stipulated that "the United States of America shall begin lifting the naval blockade imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran, and any harassment or obstruction thereof, and shall completely terminate the naval blockade within 30 days."
It also stated that "the United States of America undertakes to withdraw its military forces from the area surrounding the Islamic Republic of Iran within 30 days of the date of the final agreement," referring to the comprehensive agreement that should be reached within the 60-day timeframe.This pledge responds to Iran's demands, on the one hand, and to the demands of the US House of Representatives, which had voted on a resolution calling on President Trump to withdraw the combat forces deployed to Iran, thus achieving a shared Iranian-American interest.
In return for the American step, Iran would take a step in Article 5, namely opening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, vital to global energy security. This article stipulated that "the Islamic Republic of Iran undertakes, to the best of its ability, to provide safe passage for commercial vessels, free of charge, from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa, for a period of 60 days only." Commercial shipping traffic will commence immediately and resume within 30 days, subject to the removal of technical and military obstacles and the clearing of mines by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Notably, the Strait of Hormuz will be jointly administered by Iran and Oman, as Article 5 states: “The Islamic Republic of Iran shall cooperate with the Sultanate of Oman to determine the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with applicable international law and the sovereign rights of the littoral states of the Strait of Hormuz, and shall consult with the other littoral states of the Persian Gulf.”
Several key points are evident in Article 5, which can be summarized as follows: while passage through the Strait of Hormuz is free for 60 days, its administration will be jointly administered by Iran and the Sultanate of Oman, with fees for services provided to ships (security, logistics, etc.) to be determined in consultation with the other Gulf states. This implies that an understanding must be reached between Iran and its Gulf neighbors on this matter.
Regarding compensation for losses, Article 6 focused on satisfying Iran exclusively, stating: “The United States, in cooperation with its regional partners, undertakes to develop a final, agreed-upon program for the reconstruction and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran, amounting to no less than $300 billion. The mechanism for implementing this program will be finalized as part of the final agreement within 60 days. The United States will provide all necessary approvals, waivers, and licenses for the related financial transactions.”
Article 7 then declared: “The United States undertakes to lift all sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran, including UN Security Council resolutions, IAEA Board of Governors resolutions, and all unilateral US sanctions, both primary and secondary, according to a timetable to be agreed upon as part of the final agreement. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States recognize the fundamental importance of the issue of sanctions relief as described above and express their intention to address these matters urgently in negotiations with a view to reaching a mutual agreement on them.”
After all those concessions came the most prominent Iranian pledge in Article 8, where it states: “The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it will not produce or acquire nuclear weapons… The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America have agreed to resolve the status of stockpiled enriched material through a mechanism agreed upon by both parties, and in accordance with the timetable specified in paragraph 7, at least by thinning in situ under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The two sides have also agreed to discuss the issue of enrichment, and other agreed matters related to the nuclear needs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on the basis of a satisfactory framework to be agreed upon in the final agreement. The final agreement will confirm the provisions of this paragraph. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America recognize the fundamental importance of the above-mentioned nuclear issues and express their intention to address these issues expeditiously in the negotiations with a view to reaching a mutual agreement on them.”
After all those concessions came the most prominent Iranian pledge in Article 8, where it states: “The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it will not produce or acquire nuclear weapons… The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America have agreed to resolve the status of stockpiled enriched material through a mechanism agreed upon by both parties, and in accordance with the timetable specified in paragraph 7, at least by thinning in situ under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The two sides have also agreed to discuss the issue of enrichment, and other agreed matters related to the nuclear needs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on the basis of a satisfactory framework to be agreed upon in the final agreement. The final agreement will confirm the provisions of this paragraph. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America recognize the fundamental importance of the above-mentioned nuclear issues and express their intention to address these issues expeditiously in the negotiations with a view to reaching a mutual agreement on them.”
Then came Article 9 to freeze the nuclear program or any new sanctions, stating: “The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America agree to maintain the status quo pending the conclusion of a final agreement; The Islamic Republic of Iran will maintain the status quo regarding its nuclear program, and the United States will not impose any new sanctions on Iran, nor will it deploy additional military forces in the region.
These provisions mean that Iran will not produce or possess a nuclear weapon, but its right to a peaceful nuclear program remains preserved, including uranium enrichment for civilian use at 3.67 percent. Its existing stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent (amounting to 440 kilograms) will be diluted to make it less dense, making it suitable for exclusively civilian use under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Article 10 includes procedural commitments from the United States: "The United States undertakes, immediately upon the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding and until the lifting of sanctions, to issue waivers from the U.S. Treasury Department for the export of Iranian crude oil, petrochemical products and derivatives, and all related services, including banking, insurance, transportation, etc."
Article 11 also addresses Iranian funds that have been restricted and frozen due to successive U.S. sanctions over the past decades, thus opening a new chapter in this complex issue.
Article 11 states: “The United States of America undertakes to make all restricted or frozen funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran available for use upon implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree on a mechanism for the release of these funds during negotiations. These funds, whether deposited in the primary account or transferred, will be made fully available for payment to any ultimate beneficiary designated by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America undertakes to issue all necessary approvals and authorizations in this regard.”
Article 12 states: “The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America agree to establish an enforcement mechanism to monitor the successful implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding and future compliance with the final agreement.”It was noteworthy that Article 13 linked the commencement of negotiations for a final agreement to the implementation of the preceding articles of understanding. This implies postponing discussions on the nuclear file and enrichment until after the lifting of sanctions and financial and economic embargoes. Article 13 states: “Following the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, and subject to the commencement of the implementation of Articles 1, 4, 5, 10, and 11 thereof and the continued implementation of these measures, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America shall commence negotiations on a final agreement limited exclusively to the remaining articles.”
The most significant omission from any hint or statement is the issue of Iran’s defense capabilities, particularly its missile program of all types, including ballistic and hypersonic missiles. Israel considers this a serious threat, in addition to Iran maintaining its alliances.
A political clash between Israel and the United States is likely if Netanyahu’s government persists in defying what President Trump signed and pledged to implement.
Among the most prominent of these positions was that of former Mossad official Haim Tomer, who stated that the agreement is "bad for Israel because one of its clauses grants Iran a role in regulating maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the Sultanate of Oman."
For his part, Major General (Res.) Tamir Hayman, former head of Israeli Military Intelligence (AMAN), said that "the American-Iranian agreement guarantees the survival of the regime in Tehran and provides it with very generous economic support."
In remarks to Israel's Channel 12, he added that the agreement "gives Iran the ability to dominate the Middle East region," arguing that "it would have been better for Israel not to go to war with Iran in the first place."
In the same vein, Tal Meir, a presenter on Israel's Channel 14, said that the memorandum explains "the confidence the Iranians displayed throughout the negotiations."
Israeli media quoted military officers as saying in a letter to members of the Security Cabinet that maintaining a complete blockade on Iranian ports would have increased pressure on Tehran, arguing that the current agreement provides Iran with political and economic breathing room.
The officers explained that a sense of unease prevails within the security and military establishment in Tel Aviv, believing that the American statements reflect a "joint retreat in the face of Iran."
The American response came clearly from Vice President J.D. Vance, who said: "I believe that Israel, like other countries, seeks to influence American policy. I acknowledge that."
He added, "American leaders must be very careful about whether they are pursuing an agenda that serves the interests of the United States or the interests of another country."
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