WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday released the official text of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) reached over the weekend with Iran.
A senior US administration official read out the 14-point document, which spells out provisions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, easing certain financial restrictions on Iran and sets out expectations for addressing Iran’s nuclear programme during future technical talks.
Titled the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the document was released after outcry that its text hadn’t been released publicly.
“This is fundamentally an agreement that allows us to open the Strait of Hormuz immediately, commit the Iranians to destroying the nuclear dust, and then gives us a dial where if the Iranians dial up their good behaviour, we respond by dialling up the kind of economic and sanctions relief that can make them a more prosperous country,” the senior US official said.
The memorandum is due to be formally signed on Friday, triggering a 60-day-window to negotiate the final terms of a deal. CNN had earlier reported on a draft agreement laying out the terms. The official text released by the US is similar, but with some language differences, and it refers to a “minimum methodology” for neutralising Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which the draft did not.
Below is the official text in full:
The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran have jointly agreed in good faith on [ __ date] on the following:
1 — The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran and their allies in the current war are signing this MoU to declare the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and undertake from now on not to initiate any war or any military operation against each other, and to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other, and ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon. The final deal will confirm the permanent termination of the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon and other provisions of this paragraph.
2 — The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran undertake to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to refrain from interfering in each other’s internal affairs.
3 — The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran commit to negotiating and achieving the final deal in maximum 60 days, extendable with mutual consent.
4 — Immediately upon the signing of this MoU, the United States of America will begin the removal of its naval blockade and any disturbances or impediments against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and will fully end the naval blockade within 30 days. During this period, the traffic of vessels will be in proportion to the numbers of pre-war traffic being restored by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America further undertakes to remove its forces from the proximity of the Islamic Republic of Iran within 30 days after the final deal.
5 — Upon the signing of this MoU, the Islamic Republic of Iran will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge, for 60 days only, from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa. The traffic of commercial vessels will immediately start, and considering the need for removing the technical and military obstacles, and demining by the Islamic Republic of Iran will be instated within 30 days. The Islamic Republic of Iran will conduct dialog with the Sultanate of Oman to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz in discussion with other Persian Gulf littoral states in line with the applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz.
6 — The United States of America undertakes with regional partners to develop a definitive, mutually agreed plan with at least USD 300 billion for the reconstruction and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The mechanism for the implementation of this plan will be finalised as part of a final deal within 60 days. All required licences, waivers and permissions needed for the relevant financial transactions will be granted by the United States of America.
7 — The United States of America undertakes to terminate all types of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the United Nations Security Council resolutions, IAEA Board of Governors resolutions, and all unilateral US sanctions, primary and secondary, in an agreed upon schedule as part of the final deal. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America acknowledge the critical importance of the sanctions termination issue above mentioned, and expressed their intentions to immediately address these issues in the negotiations in order to achieve mutual agreement on them.
8 — The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran have agreed to resolve the disposition of stockpiled enriched material pursuant to a mechanism that will be mutually agreed upon in accordance with the schedule mentioned in paragraph seven, with the minimum methodology to be down blended on site under the supervision of the IAEA. The two parties also agreed to discuss the issue of enrichment and other mutually agreed matters related to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear needs, based on a satisfactory framework being agreed upon in the final deal. The final deal will confirm the provisions of this paragraph. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran acknowledge the critical importance of the nuclear issues above mentioned. They express their intention to immediately address these issues in the negotiations in order to achieve mutual agreement on them.
9 — Pending the final deal, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree to maintain the status quo. The Islamic Republic of Iran will maintain the current status quo of its nuclear programme, and the United States of America will not impose any new sanctions and will not deploy additional forces in the region.
10 — The United States of America undertakes that immediately upon the signing of this MoU and until the termination of sanctions, US Department of Treasury will issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives, and all associated services, including banking transactions, insurances, transportation, etc.
11 — The United States of America undertakes to make fully available for use the frozen or restricted funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran upon the implementation of this MoU. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will mutually agree on the procedures related to the release of these funds during negotiations. Such funds, whether retained in the original account or transferred, shall be made fully usable 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 licenses and authorizations accordingly. 12 — The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree that an executive mechanism will be established to monitor the successful implementation of this MoU and the future compliance of the final deal.
13 — After signing this MoU, and subject to the beginning of the implementation of paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 10 and 11 of this MoU, and the continuing implementation of these measures, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will start negotiations regarding the final deal exclusively on the other paragraphs.
14 — The final deal will be endorsed by a binding UNSC resolution.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump warned Iran he was ready to resume military action if Tehran did not abide by its obligations, two days ahead of the signing of an accord to end the war between the foes. “No it’s not final. It’s a memorandum of understanding,” Trump said at the G7, referring to the agreement expected to be signed in Switzerland on Friday.
“If I don’t like it we will go back to shooting at them,” he added alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. “If they don’t behave, we’ll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head.
“Because they misbehaved for 47 years,” he said, referring to the Islamic republic, founded in the Islamic revolution after the ousting of the Shah, a US ally, in 1979.
Donald Trump claimed his administration had achieved “regime change” in Iran and added that he could have continued the war but “didn’t want to see economic catastrophe.” However, he said he expected the accord with Iran ending the Middle East war to be signed “shortly” but added uncertainty over the date. “The deal we reached with Iran on Sunday will be signed shortly, tomorrow (Thursday), maybe the next day (Friday),” Trump said at the G7 summit, after previous announcements that it would be signed Friday in Switzerland. “We are going to most likely sign a deal,” he added.
He told a roomful of global leaders “I’m the boss”, as he and other G7 heads acknowledged Ukraine’s improved battlefield fortunes with a unified pledge of support and fresh sanctions against Russia.
Talking to told reporters in Paris, Trump said that it would be unfair for Iran not to have ballistic missiles if other countries have them.
“I’m saying that if other countries have them, it’s a little bit unfair for them not to have some,”
“If Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and they all have some, I would say in relative proportion, I think it’s okay.”
Trump also said the US would leave its military in the Gulf “for a while” after Washington struck a deal with Tehran to end its nearly four-month conflict in the region.
Oil prices fell again on Wednesday on prospects for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, with Brent crude futuresLCOc1 below $80, at their lowest level since the opening salvos of the US-Iran conflict.
But they later regained more than 1% after Trump said he could resume the war if he was unsatisfied with Iran.
Separately, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar held a telephonic conversation with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. They exchanged views on the recent understandings reached between the US and Iran and the forthcoming signing of the memorandum of understanding in Switzerland on Friday. Dar also held a telephonic conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The two sides welcomed the recent understandings reached between the US and Iran and exchanged views on the forthcoming signing of the MoU in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, on June 19, 2026.
Also, DPM/FM Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan is facilitating the repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals who are expected to transit through Karachi in the coming days. “Pakistan is pleased to facilitate the repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals,” DPM Dar posted on X. “This includes 8 Iranian fishermen rescued at sea by the British vessel MMA Valour after their boat ran aground, and 22 Iranian crew members from the vessel Lenore/Davina, recently interdicted by US authorities. Both groups are expected to transit through Karachi in the coming days.”
