Trump's Iran pact seen as a strategic defeat in Washington

The Memorandum of Understanding is now in effect, bringing an end to the US-Iran war after 110 days of conflict

Rachel Vickers-Price UK and World News Reporter

22:53, 17 Jun 2026 Updated 00:00, 18 Jun 2026

The US and Iran have officially signed a memorandum of understanding tonight to end the war, a White House spokesperson has confirmed.

‌

It is understood that the signing of the peace agreement was "digital" and the memorandum of understanding is now in effect, bringing conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran to an end.

‌

The trio will now work to secure a long-awaited deal to end the war, restore global shipping in the essential Strait of Hormuz, and will aim to resolve an ongoing dispute on Tehran’s nuclear programme which has long caused significant global concern.

‌

Iran now has 60 days to prove it is willing to make peace and change its ways after signing on the dotted line. Both sides will have to come to the table to hash out the biggest issues. Iran has secured billions in funds to start fixing its decimated cities so it can once again start selling oil. Some other sanctions imposed by the US have also been dropped with immediate effect.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was released in full on Wednesday and has laid out the groundwork for the next two months of negotiations between the US and Iran, with the US still hoping to achieve its overall goal of de-proliferation.

President Trump warned leaders in Tehran to abide by the agreement, or the US will reignite the war and continue with the Islamic Republic's destruction. Trump made as much clear to reporters on Wednesday, prior to the signing of the war-ending treaty. “We’re gonna bomb the hell out of them if they violate the agreement,” he said.

‌

The MOU states that in return for the removal of all of America's crippling global sanctions, Iran will vow that it will not build a nuclear weapon. It will also agree on how to dilute it's nearly 1,000 pounds of enriched uranium, which could be used for precisely the aforementioned purpose.

Here is the full memorandum text:

‌

1. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, together with their allies in the current war, declare upon the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding an immediate and permanent end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, and undertake that from now on they will not launch any hostile action against each other, and will refrain from the threat or use of force against each other. The final agreement will confirm the provisions of this Article and the remaining Articles.

2. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States undertake to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to refrain from interfering in each other’s internal affairs.

3. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States undertake to negotiate and reach a final agreement within a maximum period of 60 days, extendable by mutual consent.

‌

4. Immediately upon the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, the United States Lift the naval blockade and prevent any interference or obstruction against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and restore traffic within a maximum of 30 days to its full capacity; the traffic of ships shall be proportional to the pre-war volume of traffic on the part of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States also undertakes to withdraw its forces from the surrounding areas within 30 days after the final agreement.

5. Upon signing this Memorandum of Understanding, the Islamic Republic of Iran will immediately take steps to ensure that the movement of merchant ships from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa is resumed within 30 days to the pre-war volume, taking into account the need for the removal of technical obstacles and the neutralisation of mines by Iran.

6. The United States undertakes, together with its regional partners, to create a comprehensive plan agreed upon by both parties for the rehabilitation and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran, While ensuring financing of at least $300 billion. The implementation mechanism of this plan, as part of the final agreement, will be formulated within 60 days.

‌

7. The United States commits to ending, on a schedule to be agreed upon as part of the final agreement, all types of sanctions currently facing the Islamic Republic of Iran, including resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and all unilateral U.S. sanctions, both primary and secondary.

8. The Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates that it will never produce nuclear weapons. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States have agreed that the fate of enriched material and the fate of all others mutually agreed nuclear-related issues, including Iran’s nuclear needs, will be adequately addressed in a final agreement; the final agreement will confirm the provisions of this Article.

9. The Islamic Republic of Iran an…