Iran State Media Publishes 14-Point Draft Deal With US

Iran’s Mehr News agency published details of a 14-point draft memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States, citing a source close to the Iranian negotiating team.

A spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the text still requires review and approval by the relevant institutions in Iran, the agency reported. Mehr did not name the source, and the terms remain unconfirmed.

The draft calls for a permanent and immediate end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, according to the report. It also includes an American pledge not to interfere in Iran’s internal affairs and to respect the Islamic Republic’s sovereignty.

Under the published terms, the United States would lift the naval blockade in full within 30 days, withdraw its forces from areas surrounding Iran, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days under Iranian arrangements.

The draft suspends sanctions on Iran’s sales of oil, petrochemical products and derivatives, and grants Iran full access to its financial resources, the report said. It also requires the United States and its allies to present reconstruction plans for Iran worth at least $300 billion.

The document sets a 60-day negotiating period for a final agreement covering nuclear issues and the full lifting of primary and secondary sanctions, including U.S. sanctions and resolutions by the U.N. Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors.

Iran would affirm its commitment under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty not to produce nuclear weapons, according to the draft. During the talks, Washington would pledge not to send additional forces to the region or impose new sanctions.

The draft provides for the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian funds during the 60-day period, with half of that amount available to Iran before negotiations begin. Final talks would not start before the release of half the frozen funds, the suspension of oil sanctions and the lifting of the naval blockade, the report said.

A monitoring mechanism would oversee implementation, and a U.N. Security Council resolution would ratify the final agreement, according to the draft.

Iran’s missile program and its support for resistance factions have been removed from the agenda for good. — Source close to the Iranian negotiating team, cited by Mehr News

The final agreement would cover only the fate of enriched material and enrichment, the lifting of sanctions and Iran’s economic reconstruction program, the source said.

Unofficial translation:

Mehr News Agency reported the following details of this draft:

1. A permanent and immediate cessation of war on all fronts, including Lebanon.
2. A commitment by America not to interfere in Iran’s internal affairs and to respect the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
3. The complete lifting of the naval blockade within 30 days.
4. A commitment by America to withdraw its forces from the vicinity of Iran.
5. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days under Iranian arrangements.
6. The suspension of sanctions on the sale of oil, petrochemical products, and derivatives, and enabling Iran to have full access to its financial resources.
7. The necessity for America and its allies to present reconstruction plans for Iran worth at least $300 billion.
8. 60 days of negotiations to reach a final agreement based on nuclear issues, the complete lifting of primary and secondary sanctions, U.S. sanctions, and resolutions of the UN Security Council and the IAEA Board of Governors.
9. Iran’s reaffirmation of its commitment to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) by not producing nuclear weapons.
10. During the negotiation period, America commits not to add forces to the region and not to impose new sanctions.
11. The release of $24 billion of frozen Iranian funds during the 60-day period of final negotiations, provided that half of this amount is made available to Iran before the start of negotiations.
12. The formation of a monitoring mechanism to implement the agreement.
13. Ratification of the final agreement through a UN Security Council resolution.
14. Final negotiations will not begin before the release of half of the frozen Iranian funds, the suspension of oil sanctions on Iran, and the lifting of the naval blockade. Furthermore, the final agreement will only center on the fate of enriched materials and enrichment, the lifting of sanctions, and the reconstruction program for the Iranian economy. The file on Iran’s missile program and its support for resistance factions has been permanently removed from the agenda.

As announced by the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this text still requires review and approval by the relevant institutions in Iran.

Editor’s Note: These terms come from an unconfirmed draft reported by Iranian state media. The final memorandum of understanding, if agreed, may differ. This story will be updated once both parties confirm a final version.