Crescent International
Amid a flurry of statements from Tehran, Doha, Washington DC and Islamabad on June 12, it appears that the draft of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Iran and the US has been “finalized”.
It has not been signed yet because it awaits a final nod from Tehran but the fact that Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on June 12 that the MoU with the US had “never been closer” indicates progress has been made.
On the evening of June 11, Donald Trump announced that he was cancelling his threatened strikes on Iran made early in the day because a deal had been “reached”.
He even claimed the war had ended.
Iranian media gave details of what was supposedly included in the document, much to the chagrin of Trump.
End to zionist Israel’s war on Lebanon was part of the deal, according to the Iranian medi.
Israeli war minister Israel Katz, however, said since his country had not been part of the US-Iran talks, zionist occupation troops “will not withdraw” from Lebanon, Syria and Gaza.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also added his two cents on X that a “final, agreed upon text of the peace deal has been reached”, with “next steps” to be finalised.
Pakistan, together with Qatar, has acted as go-between for US-Iran indirect talks passing messages between the parties.
Iran’s top diplomat described the MoU as a two-stage process.
The first stage focuses on the MoU itself which means ending the war on all fronts, especially in Lebanon, permanently.
No additional US forces will be deployed in and around Iran and those present there will be withdrawn.
The US will respect Iran’s sovereignty and not issue threats or impose new sanctions against it.
Tehran will receive $12 billion of its frozen assets as soon as the MoU is signed.
This was the result of a high level Qatari delegation that held talks in Tehran on June 10 and into the early hours of June 11.
Qatar holds $24 billion of Iran’s frozen funds.
The release of half of Iran’s frozen funds was agreed with the US.
In return, Iran will open the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping within 30 days but under a regional arrangement with Oman.
The US will also lift the blockade of Iranian ports and allow the sale of Iranian oil and goods.
Foreign Minister Arghchi revealed that intense discussions were taking place among top officials in Tehran to approve the deal.
He also said the agreement was not a concession to the US or the result of pressure from Washington.
It was the product of Iran’s firm positions and red lines.
This is borne out by the fact that Iran’s nuclear file will be discussed only in the second stage after the MoU is signed.
It will also address the issue of Iran’s highly enriched uranium, and the lifting of all US, UN and IAEA sanctions.
Iran had insisted on this and the US was forced to accept this condition.
Further, there will be no discussion of Iran’s missile program, much less any curtailment of it.
Regarding its nuclear program, Iran has given assurances that it will not seek a nuclear weapon at all.
This has been Tehran’s position all along.
Regarding its stockpile of enriched uranium, it will be diluted inside Iran.
None of this will leave the country.
In the second stage, discussion will also consider mechanisms for releasing all of Iran’s frozen funds, amounting to some $120 billion.
Raparations of $300 billion to be paid to Iran for war damages will also be part of discussion in the second stage.
A word of caution is in order.
Unless the MoU is signed, there is no deal.
And even if one is signed, there is no guarantee that Trump will honour its terms.
He is a liar, a cheat and a fraud.
But he is also desperate for a deal because rising gas and food prices are turning Americans against Trump.
Iran, however, is entering the discussions with its eyes wide open having been betrayed twice before.
This time, however, Tehran has the upperhand because it has demonstrated its military prowess and inflicted a crushing defeat on the US and zionist Israel.
Should the evil duo make the mistake of attacking Iran again, the illegitimate zionist entity will be wiped out.
