White House Releases Full Text of US-Iran Memorandum

The document includes a pledge to safeguard Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty – a provision likely to draw scrutiny in Israel amid ongoing disputes over Hezbollah and Israeli security zones in southern Lebanon.

By United with Israel Staff

The White House on Wednesday published the full text of the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding ahead of its expected signing ceremony in Switzerland on Friday, offering the clearest picture yet of a deal that could have far-reaching implications for the region.

The memorandum confirms many of the provisions that had previously surfaced in media reports, including a commitment to immediately halt military activity across all fronts, including Lebanon.

Under the agreement, the United States and Iran declare an immediate and permanent cessation of military operations and commit not to resume hostilities against one another. The document also includes a pledge to safeguard Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, a provision likely to draw scrutiny in Israel amid ongoing disputes over Hezbollah and Israeli security zones in southern Lebanon.

The Lebanon-related language may also reinforce earlier reports from Asharq Al-Awsat claiming that Iran has assured Hezbollah that Israel will eventually withdraw from southern Lebanon and that Tehran has linked a final nuclear agreement to the completion of that withdrawal.

The agreement establishes a 60-day period for negotiating a final accord, with the option of extending talks by mutual consent.

Among the provisions, the United States commits to lifting its naval blockade and other restrictions on Iran, while Tehran agrees to restore commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran will facilitate the safe passage of commercial vessels for a temporary 60-day period and work toward fully restoring maritime traffic.

The memorandum also states that the United States will withdraw its forces from areas near Iran within 30 days of a final agreement being reached.

Economically, the agreement provides sweeping relief for Tehran. Washington commits to allowing Iranian oil exports immediately, including the banking, transportation, insurance, and financial services necessary to facilitate those sales. The United States also agrees to permit full access to frozen Iranian funds and assets.

In addition, the agreement calls for the United States and its regional partners to develop a reconstruction and economic development plan for Iran worth at least $300 billion.

On the nuclear issue, Iran reiterates that it will not acquire or develop nuclear weapons. However, the memorandum leaves several key questions unresolved, including the future of Iran’s enrichment program.

Instead, the two sides agreed to negotiate a mechanism for addressing Iran’s stockpile of enriched material, with the minimum requirement being dilution under International Atomic Energy Agency supervision. The agreement also calls for further discussions regarding enrichment and Iran’s future nuclear needs as part of the final accord.

Until that final agreement is reached, the memorandum explicitly preserves the status quo. Iran will maintain its current nuclear program, while the United States agrees not to impose new sanctions or deploy additional forces to the region.

The document further states that any final agreement reached between Washington and Tehran would ultimately be ratified through a binding United Nations Security Council resolution.

The publication of the full text is likely to intensify debate in Israel, where senior political leaders from both the coalition and opposition have already voiced concerns about the agreement’s implications for Iran’s nuclear program, Hezbollah, and Israel’s security posture in Lebanon.