Iran and United States Reach Emerging Memorandum of Understanding
Negotiations on the draft agreement are scheduled to begin in Switzerland on Friday. The most difficult issues remain unresolved.
nbcnews.comIran and the United States have reached an emerging memorandum of understanding, BBC News reported. Negotiations on the memorandum are expected to begin in Switzerland on Friday. The most difficult issues remaining to be discussed are the future of Iran's enriched uranium, the level of enrichment allowed, verification, sanctions relief, Hormuz, and Lebanon.
President Masoud Pezeshkian described the understanding as potentially transformative and said that if fully implemented it could resolve many of Iran's problems and create "a different world" in Iran and the Middle East. US Vice-President JD Vance stated that Iran would not receive taxpayer money but could gain access to billions of dollars if it fulfils its commitments and sanctions are eased.
Benjamin Netanyahu rejected reports that Israel will withdraw from southern Lebanon and said Israeli forces will remain in Lebanon for as long as necessary.
Donald Trump publicly criticised Israel's conduct in Lebanon, saying too many people have been killed. Trump said he was unhappy with an Israeli strike on Beirut shortly before the Iran-US deal was reached, while stating that his relationship with Netanyahu remained excellent. Oil prices fell and shares jumped after the US-Iran deal was announced.
Iran has gone through a damaging war. Its economy is under severe pressure with very high inflation. A hard-line MP who is deputy chair of parliament's National Security Committee described the draft deal as a document that would turn Iran into an American colony.
The same hard-line MP accused negotiators of ignoring the supreme leader's directive not to re-open the Strait of Hormuz to shipping. For many Iranians, the question is not whether the deal means victory, but whether it lowers prices and reduces fear of another war.
