WASHINGTON— The text of the agreement between the United States and Iran has finally been shared with reporters.
After days of intense scrutiny and debate over the deal, a senior Trump administration official read the “memorandum of understanding between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran” to reporters on a Wednesday afternoon call.
The text of the memorandum, according to that official, reads thus: “The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran have jointly agreed in good faith on such and such a date on the following.”
Paragraph 1
The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran and their allies in the current war, by signing this MOU, 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.
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.
Paragraph 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.
Paragraph 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.
“What we’re saying is that after 30 days, or within 30 days after the final deal—meaning assuming we get to the final deal, we may not—but assuming we get to the final deal, then we will return our force posture in the region to that which existed before the conflict started,” the senior administration official noted. “That’s what that paragraph effectively provides.”
Paragraph 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 reinstated within 30 days. The Islamic Republic of Iran will conduct dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman to define the future administration and maritime services of the Strait of Hormuz in discussion with other Persian Gulf littoral states in line with applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz.
The senior administration official made particular note that the MOU says “the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge” for the first 60 days.
“It says that Iran will work not just with Oman, but with the Gulf States to set up a broader agreement, a longer-term agreement on the Strait of Hormuz,” the official explained. “And of course, I’m sure the Iranians will assert their rights as aggressively as they can, but fundamentally toll-free passage of the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days, and that will continue because the Persian Gulf States will never agree to an arrangement that doesn’t permit toll-free access to the Strait of Hormuz for themselves and their industries.”
The senior administration official also emphasized that on Tuesday, Iran did not fire at any vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
“So fundamentally, even before the formal signing ceremony on Friday, we see Iran actually ceasing its efforts to cut off traffic from the Strait of Hormuz,” the official noted. “This is one of the reasons why Brent crude is hovering around $79 and West Texas crude is even lower.”
Paragraph 6
The United States of America undertakes with regional partners to develop a definitive, mutually agreed plan, which could reach $300 billion for the reconstruction and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The definitive implementation of this plan will be finalized as part of a final deal within 60 days. All required licenses, waivers, and permissions needed for the relevant financial transactions will be granted by the United States of America.
This paragraph, the senior administration official pointed out, is probably one of the most controversial paragraphs in the deal.
“Note tha…
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