The memorandum of understanding, consisting of 14 points, has not yet been officially released, but a copy was obtained by CNN from a North American official. A diplomat who consulted the document at the G7 summit in France this week confirmed its contents, as did two other diplomatic sources with knowledge of the negotiations.
The agreement between Iran and the United States establishes the terms of a ceasefire between the two historic rivals, some financial relief for Tehran and a reaffirmation that the country will never produce a nuclear weapon, according to a preliminary copy of the text obtained by CNN.
The memorandum of understanding, consisting of 14 points, has not yet been officially released, but a copy was obtained by CNN from a North American official. A diplomat who consulted the document at the G7 summit in France this week confirmed its contents, as did two other diplomatic sources with knowledge of the negotiations.
Under the deal, the United States will allow Iran to sell oil and petrochemicals. Tehran may also have access to one, if it fulfills commitments related to its nuclear program in future negotiations. The document does not specify the destination of Iran’s highly enriched uranium.
An American official told CNN that the text reflects the agreement signed digitally on Sunday by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and the President of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. However, given the reservation maintained by both parties regarding the wording of the document, it remains unclear whether the version obtained by CNN corresponds exactly to the final text, which must be signed in person on Friday, in Switzerland. The technical details continue to be finalized, so the wording may still undergo changes.
Speaking to CNN, US officials described it as a “political document” that does not reflect crucial commitments made by Iran in discreet diplomatic channels, particularly with regard to the future of Iran’s nuclear program. The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the version obtained by CNN. The semi-official Iranian Tasnim agency classified them as inaccurate. Bloomberg previously published a version of the document.
The memorandum is expected to be formally signed on Friday, triggering a 60-day period to negotiate the final terms of a deal.
The full text follows:
1 — The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, together with their allies in the current war, declare, with the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, the immediate and permanent end of the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, committing themselves not to launch any hostile actions against each other and to refrain from threatening or using force against each other. The final agreement will confirm the provisions of this article and the remaining articles.
2 — The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States undertake to mutually respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each party, as well as not to interfere in each other’s internal affairs.
3 — The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States undertake to negotiate and reach a final agreement within a maximum period of 60 days, extendable by mutual consent.
4 — Immediately after signing this Memorandum of Understanding, the United States will lift the naval blockade and prevent any interference or obstruction against the Islamic Republic of Iran, restoring maritime traffic to full capacity within a maximum period of 30 days. Ship traffic will be proportional to the volume existing before the war by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States also undertakes to withdraw its forces from the surrounding areas within 30 days after the final agreement.
5 — Following the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, the Islamic Republic of Iran will immediately take measures to ensure that the movement of merchant ships between the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, in both directions, is resumed within 30 days to pre-war levels, taking into account the need to remove technical obstacles and neutralize mines by Iran.
6 — The United States commits, together with its regional partners, to create a comprehensive plan, agreed by both parties, for the recovery and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran, ensuring minimum financing of 300 billion dollars. The implementation mechanism for this plan, as part of the final agreement, will be defined within 60 days.
7 — The United States commits to end, in accordance with a timetable to be agreed within the framework of the final agreement, all types of sanctions currently applied to the Islamic Republic of Iran, including resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as all unilateral US sanctions, primary and secondary.
8 — The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it will never produce nuclear weapons. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States agree that the fate of the enriched material and all other issues related to the nuclear program, including Iran’s nuclear needs, will be appropriately addressed in a final agreement. The final agreement will confirm the provisions of this article.
9 — The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States agree that, until a final agreement is reached, they will maintain the status quo: Iran will maintain the current status of its nuclear program and the United States will not impose new sanctions or reinforce its military presence in the region.
10 — The United States undertakes that, immediately after signing this Memorandum of Understanding and until the date of lifting of sanctions, the US Treasury Department will issue exemptions for exports of Iranian crude oil, petrochemical products and derivatives, as well as for all related services, including banking, insurance, transportation and others.
11 — The United States commits that, as negotiations progress toward a final agreement, frozen or restricted funds and assets belonging to the Islamic Republic of Iran will be released and made fully available. These funds, whether remaining in the main account or transferred, can be used for any final beneficiary payment determined by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran and will be fully available for use. The United States undertakes to issue all authorizations and licenses necessary for this purpose.
12 — The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States agree that an implementation mechanism will be created to oversee the successful execution and future compliance with the final agreement.
13 — After signing this Memorandum of Understanding, and after receiving guarantees regarding the beginning of the implementation of articles 4, 5, 10 and 11, as well as the continuity of these measures, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States will begin negotiations for a final agreement exclusively regarding the remaining articles.
14 — The final agreement will be approved through a binding resolution of the United Nations Security Council.
