The long‑simmering diplomatic efforts to end the US‑Israeli war on Iran appear to be entering their endgame, with a detailed memorandum of understanding reportedly taking shape. According to Al Jazeera and other international news agencies, the proposed agreement is built around a multi‑phase framework that addresses the most immediate sources of conflict while deferring the most complex issues for later negotiations.
A Comprehensive End to Hostilities on All Fronts
The most urgent element of the draft agreement is a complete and unconditional cessation of hostilities. The memorandum reportedly calls for an end to the war on all fronts, including not just the direct US‑Iranian conflict but also the parallel war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. This reflects a core Iranian demand that any peace deal must include a full stop to the fighting in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces have carried out thousands of airstrikes and ground operations since March.
The draft agreement envisages an immediate ceasefire across the entire region, a significant departure from the existing temporary truce that has been extended repeatedly without addressing the underlying belligerency.
Lifting of the Naval Blockade and Reopening of the Strait
Central to the proposed deal is the lifting of the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, which has been in effect since mid‑April. Iranian officials have consistently argued that the blockade is a violation of the ceasefire agreement and an act of "armed piracy" on the high seas. Under the draft memorandum, the United States would agree to end its embargo, and in return, Iran would lift its effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The strait, which normally carries approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, has been largely shut to commercial shipping since late February. The reopening would be phased, with the memorandum establishing a 30‑day window during which passage would be gradually facilitated.
Release of Frozen Assets and Withdrawal of US Forces
The draft agreement also addresses the economic dimension of the conflict. It reportedly provides for the release of several billion dollars of Iranian funds that have been frozen in foreign banks, a long‑standing demand of Tehran. According to sources cited by Al Jazeera, the funds would be released as part of the initial implementation of the deal.
Additionally, the memorandum calls for the withdrawal of American forces from the immediate vicinity of Iran, a condition aimed at reducing the direct military threat that has persisted since the start of the war.
Deferral of Nuclear Talks
Perhaps the most significant element of the proposed agreement is the deliberate exclusion of Iran’s nuclear programme from the current memorandum. The draft agreement states that nuclear issues will be set aside for a later phase, with a 30‑day period following the implementation of the ceasefire during which the parties would negotiate a separate understanding on nuclear matters. During this window, Iran would commit in a memorandum of understanding not to pursue nuclear weapons, but its enrichment activities and uranium stockpiles would not be discussed until later.
This sequenced approach, ending the war first, then addressing the nuclear file has been a consistent demand of Iranian negotiators, who have argued that the nuclear issue cannot be resolved under the shadow of military aggression.
A New Regime for the Strait
Perhaps the most far‑reaching provision of the draft agreement concerns the future governance of the Strait of Hormuz itself. According to Al Jazeera’s sources, the memorandum stipulates that management of the strait will become an “Iranian‑Omani issue”, with Tehran and Muscat negotiating a bilateral mechanism to regulate shipping through the waterway.
This is a major shift from the pre‑war status quo, in which the strait was treated as an international waterway under US naval protection. Oman, which shares the southern shore of the strait, has reportedly signalled openness to the arrangement, viewing it as a way to ensure stability and potentially share in the revenue from any future toll system.
A Deal Long in the Making
The current draft memorandum is the product of weeks of intense shuttle diplomacy, with Pakistan playing the central mediating role. The framework has been refined through multiple rounds of proposals and counter‑proposals, including Iran’s 14‑point plan and the US nine‑point response.
The latest iteration reflects significant concessions on both sides, particularly Washington, given its willingness to lift its naval blockade and accept a phased approach to the nuclear file, and the new Iranian-Omani regime on the Strait of Hormuz.