A senior Iranian official has told Reuters that, under a draft memorandum with the United States, Tehran has agreed it will neither produce nor acquire nuclear weapons. Iran's National Security Council has since confirmed that the final text of the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been completed, with the signing scheduled for June 19. Iran has further stated that the maritime blockade will end immediately, all military operations — including in Lebanon — will cease from tonight, and final agreement talks will begin after the other party implements its MOU commitments. These developments come as a 60-day period of technical negotiations gets underway, with a Senior Administration Official noting significant mistrust between the two sides.
Key Terms of the Draft Memorandum
The 14-article draft MOU outlines several significant commitments from both sides. Iran's pledge covers both the production and acquisition of nuclear weapons, while the US has clarified it has no objection to civilian nuclear power plants in Iran. According to Mehr News Agency, the draft calls for the complete lifting of the US naval blockade and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days, alongside the suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil and petrochemical sales. The financial dimension of the deal includes the release of $24 billion in blocked Iranian funds. The draft also calls for an immediate and permanent end to the war on all fronts, with a final agreement to be endorsed by a UN Security Council resolution. Notably, Iran's missile program and support for resistance groups would be excluded from final negotiations.
The following table summarizes the key parameters of the agreement as reported:
| Parameter |
Details |
| Document Structure |
14-Article Draft MOU |
| MOU Signing Date |
June 19 |
| Duration of Nuclear Talks |
60 Days |
| Primary Goal |
Ensure Iran does not get a nuclear weapon |
| Iran's Nuclear Commitment |
Neither produce nor acquire a nuclear weapon |
| Maritime Blockade |
Ends immediately |
| Strait of Hormuz |
Reopening within 30 days |
| US Naval Commitment |
Complete lifting of naval blockade |
| Sanctions Relief |
Suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil and petrochemical sales |
| US Financial Commitment |
Release of $24 billion in blocked Iranian funds |
| Military Operations |
All operations, including in Lebanon, cease from tonight |
| War Commitment |
Immediate and permanent end to war on all fronts |
| Final Agreement Mechanism |
Endorsement by a UN Security Council resolution |
| Final Talks Condition |
Begin after the other party implements MOU commitments |
| Excluded from Negotiations |
Iran's missile program and support for resistance groups |
Key Objectives and Mechanisms
The negotiations are envisioned as a 60-day technical engagement aimed at achieving full sanctions relief through a structured process. A primary challenge for the United States will be determining how to enforce the commitment made by Iran regarding its nuclear weapons program. The US and Iran have set up a process to build trust and bring the agreement to a close, with the finalized MOU framework providing a detailed roadmap for subsequent negotiations. Iran has stipulated that final agreement talks will only commence after the other party fulfills its MOU commitments.
Diplomatic Context
The remarks from the Senior Administration Official provide context to the announcements carried by Iran state media, while the Mehr News report adds granular detail on the specific terms under discussion. The US perspective highlights diplomatic sensitivities, including the expected reaction of Israel — which the Senior Administration Official indicated would be comfortable with the full terms of the deal — as well as the enforcement obligations of the United States. The involvement of Iran's Supreme Leader was also noted in the context of these commitments. The US has characterized this deal as a first and important step toward ensuring Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.