>A senior Iranian official has disclosed comprehensive details of a draft memorandum of understanding with the United States, outlining a roadmap that would see Washington waive oil sanctions, release billions in frozen assets, and secure a commitment from Tehran to forswear nuclear weapons. The revelation marks the most specific public accounting of the potential accord to date, setting the stage for a 60-day sprint to negotiate a final, binding agreement.
Inside the Draft Memorandum
According to the official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, the document is a broad framework addressing immediate security flashpoints, economic relief, and the future of Iran’s contested nuclear program. The core understanding is that both sides would endorse the memorandum, triggering an intensive negotiation period for a comprehensive deal.
Key provisions of the draft include an immediate de-escalation of maritime tensions. Iran would promptly reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all commercial shipping. In a reciprocal move, the United States begin lifting its naval blockade on Iranian ports, a process slated for completion within 30 days of the memorandum’s signing.
Sanctions Relief and Economic Lifelines
On the economic front, the draft offers Tehran significant, staged relief. The United States has reportedly agreed to a standstill on any new sanctions until a final agreement is reached. Upon completion of that final pact, all US and UN sanctions would be dismantled according to a mutually agreed timetable.
Most critically for Iran’s economy, Washington would waive oil sanctions for a specified period. This would allow Tehran to officially resume crude exports and access the resulting revenues. The draft further envisions the release of $25 billion in frozen Iranian assets, structured through a mix of direct cash transfers, regional cooperation mechanisms, and financial credit arrangements.
Beyond sanctions relief, the memorandum proposes that the US, in coordination with allies, prepare a reconstruction and development plan for Iran. This proposal would be negotiated with Tehran and finalized within the same 60-day window.
Nuclear Commitments and Compromises
The nuclear pillar of the draft centers on a definitive Iranian commitment to neither produce nor acquire nuclear weapons. To build confidence pending a comprehensive agreement, Tehran would freeze its nuclear program, refraining from further uranium enrichment and the expansion of its nuclear facilities.
In a notable compromise, the United States would permit Iran, under the future comprehensive deal, to dilute its existing stockpile of highly enriched uranium on its own soil. The official stated that the most sensitive unresolved issues—including the precise status of the nuclear program, the scope of enrichment activities, and the technical mechanisms for handling the enriched uranium stockpile—would be the focus of the 60-day negotiation period and incorporated into the final text.
The disclosure provides the clearest picture yet of a potential breakthrough, even as it underscores the complex and politically charged details that negotiators must still resolve. The coming weeks will determine if this draft blueprint can be transformed into a durable and verifiable pact.
