On 17 June 2026, Trump signed the US-Iran MOU at Versailles, France, saying, “this was not easy.” The symbolism of signing an “unconditional surrender” at Versailles was evidently lost on the illiterates at the White House. Israelis, to complete the World War I parallel, supplied the anti-Versailles slogan of Nazism by calling it a “stab in the back.”
Cancellation of Meeting at Geneva
A signing ceremony at Geneva was proposed by the US, but Iranians declined because nobody wanted to be photographed standing beside the murderer of Ayatollah Khamenei, his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter, the 168 children of Minab, unarmed sailors of IRIS Dena; and the perpetrator of countless war crimes against the ancient Iranian nation.
Signing at Versailles
The final text was supposed to be released on 19 June after the MOU was executed in Geneva, but leaks of purported texts forced both parties to sign the English and Persian texts digitally and remotely on the 17th. President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian did the honors for the winners.
Full Text of the MOU
The full text from Tasnim News, Iran, is below. Images of the fully-executed document in English and Persin were tweeted by Dr. Pezeshkian. They are in the section below, titled “Signed MOU.” NB: I have not compared the text supplied by Tasnim News with the text in the images.
Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the Islamic Republic of Iran and The United States of America
The Islamic Republic of Iran and The United States of America have jointly agreed in good faith on June [17] on the following:
1 —The Islamic Republic of Iran and The United States of America 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 Islamic Republic of Iran and The United States of America 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 of America 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 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.
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 Islamic Republic of Iran and The United States of America 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 Islamic Republic of Iran and The United States of America 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 Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America agree to maintain the status quo. The Islamic Republic of Iran will maintain the current status quo of its nuclear program, 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 Islamic Republic of Iran and The United States of America 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 Islamic Republic of Iran and The United States of America 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 Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America will start negotiations regarding the final deal exclusively on the other paragraphs.
14 — The final deal will be endorsed by a binding UNSC resolution.
Signed MOU
English Text
Persian Text
Analysis
Will the MOU survive? Neoconservatives are hysterical. Democrats are attacking Trump from the right. Israelis are in a massive meltdown. I have not ventured into the Hebrew language asylums on Twitter and Telegram, but comments escaping from the asylum that were tweeted include this favorite: “we’ll be joining the Iranians in chanting ‘Death to America’.”
A few brief thoughts. There are practical difficulties to the implementation of provisions of the MOU; for example, ¶ 1, ending Israel’s invasion of Lebanon. The most difficult clause in the paragraph is “ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon,” that is, Israel must withdraw. Trump has the power to compel Israel, but he may not have the will to break decisively with Israel. If, however, Israel continues to bomb Lebanese towns and/or remain within Lebanon’s international borders, Iran has the right to consider the ceasefire terminated and rain missiles on Israel.
It is unclear how ¶ 6, establishment of minimum $300 billion “reconstruction and economic development” plan, will be funded. Democrats, who never funded health care, infrastructure, etc. since 9/11, but funded Israel and every post-9/11 war, are claiming the $300 billion could be used for “cancer care…”
The clause in ¶ 7 on US sanctions has no chance of success: “terminate all types of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, including … all unilateral US sanctions, primary and secondary…” POTUS is limited in what he can do because previous Congresses tied his hands. Congress has to vote on lifting all designations and sanctions against Iran. Even a simple majority is not available. A Treaty, which requires two-thirds of Senate to consent, is ideal to bar impositions of new sanctions. Iranians know this.
¶ 2 is fascinating. It requires both parties to “respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to refrain from interfering in each other’s internal affairs.” This was also required in the Algiers Accords (19 January 1981). But the US spent the last 46 years “interfering” in Iran’s “internal affairs.”
Like the majority of the Iranian people, I am hopeful but realistic. If US or Israel breach the MOU, Iran’s negotiators are ready to return to the bargaining table.
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