Extended ceasefire, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, status quo on nuclear power… What the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States contains

The signing was initially planned in Switzerland. The “Memorandum of Understanding” between the United States and Iran was finally signed on Thursday June 18 remotely and electronically by American President Donald Trump, during a visit to the Palace of Versailles, in France, and initialed by his Iranian counterpart, Massoud Pezeshkian. A celebration is planned for Friday in Switzerland, opening a two-month period of negotiations. For Iran, “this agreement demonstrates the failure of the United States”declared the head of the Iranian negotiating team, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Here is the essence of what this 14-point protocol contains, revealed by American officials in the media and by the official Iranian press agency Irna.

A final agreement within 60 days

This is perhaps the most important point of this protocol: nothing has yet been decided. The United States and Iran undertake to negotiate and conclude the final agreement within a maximum period of 60 days. But the discussions could be extended, by mutual agreement. The final version will be ratified by a binding resolution of the UN Security Council.

The permanent cessation of hostilities

The memorandum of understanding amounts, de facto, to extending the current ceasefire by 60 days. The United States, Iran and their respective allies “declare the immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon”. They commit “not to initiate war or military operations against each other and to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other, while guaranteeing the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon”.

The final agreement will confirm the definitive cessation of hostilities on all fronts. As a reminder, Lebanon was drawn into the conflict when Hezbollah fired rockets against Israel on March 2 in support of Tehran. Israel responded with massive bombings which left more than 3,800 dead, according to the Lebanese authorities.

The lifting of the American naval bloc

The United States will start “immédiatement” to lift their blockade of Iranian ports, which they had put in place on April 13, and will put an end to it completely within 30 days. The Americans are also committed “to withdraw their forces from the outskirts of the Islamic Republic of Iran within 30 days of the final agreement”.

Reopening of the Strait of Hormuz free of charge for 60 days

L’Iran s’engage à “ensure safe passage of commercial vessels, free of charge for 60 days only, from the Arabian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, and vice versa. Commercial vessel traffic will begin immediately” and will be fully restored within 30 days, once the Strait of Hormuz is cleared.

Iran is also expected to enter into dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman “in order to define the future administration and the Maritime Services Authority of the Strait of Hormuz, in consultation with the other States of the Persian Gulf”. And this, “in accordance with applicable international law and the sovereign rights of the coastal States of the Strait of Hormuz”.

The strait “will not return to the pre-war situation”declared Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in an interview broadcast Wednesday evening by state television. “Iran has a right of sovereignty over Hormuz and, of course, we will collect a fee for these services”he added.

A $300 billion plan for Iran

The United States also undertakes, in the event of a final agreement, to facilitate “with their regional partners”particularly from the Gulf, the release of a fund of 300 billion dollars, or 261 billion euros, for the reconstruction and economic development of Iran, without this implying any American financial participation. The terms of implementation of this plan will be finalized as part of the final agreement.

The lifting of all sanctions against the Islamic Republic

This is a priori one of the Iranian victories. The United States “commit to putting an end to all types of sanctions” against the Islamic Republic, “including those provided for by resolutions of the UN Security Council, namely resolutions of the Board of Governors of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), as well as all unilateral US sanctions, primary and secondary”. The timetable for this lifting of sanctions will be specified in the final agreement.

In the meantime, the United States “undertake to make fully available and usable the funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran frozen or subject to restrictions upon the implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding”. Immediately and until the sanctions are lifted, the US Treasury Department will issue “exemptions for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives, as well as for all associated services, including banking transactions, insurance, transport, etc.”.

The status quo on nuclear power while waiting for the final agreement

Iran reaffirms that it “will not acquire or develop nuclear weapons”. During the two months of negotiations, the two countries will discuss a mechanism to deal with Iranian enriched uranium stockpiles “using, at a minimum, an on-site dilution method under the supervision of the IAEA”underlined an American official, wanting to see a “major victory” pour Washington.

While waiting for this final agreement, Iran “will maintain the current status quo of its nuclear program” and the United States “will not impose any new sanctions or deploy additional forces in the region”.

Will the agreement in the making be just a return to the old nuclear agreement of 2015? Former Democratic President Barack Obama thus estimated “It is unlikely that any agreement that emerges will be materially different or a significant improvement over the (JCPOA) agreement we had to begin with.” The latter “worked for a long time” avant “that the United States does not withdraw”he continued on the ABC channel, referring to the withdrawal made by Donald Trump during his first term.