U.S. and Iran Sign Nuclear Framework MOU, Start 60-Day Talks

A memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran has been signed, opening a 60-day window for final negotiations on a nuclear framework. Planned follow-up talks in Switzerland were postponed Friday. The MOU requires Iran to reaffirm it will not procure or develop nuclear weapons.

A senior administration official said the United States has reached understandings with Iran on enriched uranium stockpiles, dismantlement of nuclear sites, an enrichment ban, and inspection access. Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that Iran has promised not to enrich uranium and to allow inspectors to destroy the highly enriched stockpile.

He added that the deal contemplates benefits if Iran meets those promises but does nothing if it does not.

The MOU identifies on-site downblending under IAEA supervision as the minimum acceptable method for handling Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile. It does not explicitly state that Iran will retain a civilian nuclear program, but it says the two sides will discuss enrichment and other matters related to Iran’s nuclear needs in a final deal.

A recent IAEA report released this month stated that aside from a single inspection at an Iranian nuclear power plant, the agency has not received information from Iran about the status of its other declared nuclear facilities or associated nuclear material.

The report also stated the agency has not had access to those sites for in-field verification. Andrea Stricker, deputy director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Nonproliferation Program, said Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile could, if recovered and further enriched, provide enough weapons-grade material for roughly 22 nuclear weapons.