A senior US official released what he said would be the full text of the agreement between the United States and Iran to cease hostilities, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin nuclear negotiations.
The text of the agreement, read aloud in a conference call with reporters this Wednesday, is below. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, in accordance with rules set by the White House.
Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran
The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran have jointly agreed, in good faith, on such date, to the following:
Paragraph 1
The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as their allies in the current war, by signing this memorandum of understanding, declare the immediate and permanent end of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and undertake, from now on, not to initiate any war or military operation against each other, as well as to refrain from the threat or use of force between them, guaranteeing the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon. The final agreement will confirm the permanent end of the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, in addition to the other provisions of this paragraph.
Paragraph 2
The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran undertake to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and not to interfere in their internal affairs.
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Paragraph 3
The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran undertake to negotiate and reach a final agreement within a maximum of 60 days, a period that may be extended by mutual consent.
Paragraph 4
Immediately upon signing this memorandum, the United States of America will begin the withdrawal of its naval blockade and any disturbances or impediments against the Islamic Republic of Iran, fully ending the naval blockade within 30 days. During this period, vessel traffic will be restored by the Islamic Republic of Iran in proportion to pre-war levels. The United States of America also undertakes to withdraw its forces from the vicinity of the Islamic Republic of Iran within 30 days of the final agreement.
Paragraph 5
With the signing of this memorandum, the Islamic Republic of Iran will take steps, using its best efforts, to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels, free of charge, for only 60 days, from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman, and vice versa. Commercial vessel traffic will begin immediately and, considering the need to remove technical and military obstacles and carry out demining by the Islamic Republic of Iran, will be fully reestablished within 30 days. The Islamic Republic of Iran will maintain dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman to define future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz, in discussion with other coastal States of the Persian Gulf, in accordance with applicable international law and the sovereign rights of the coastal States of the Strait of Hormuz.
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Paragraph 6
The United States of America commits, with regional partners, to develop a definitive, mutually agreed upon plan of at least US$300 billion for the reconstruction and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The mechanism for implementing this plan will be finalized as part of the final agreement, within 60 days. All licenses, exemptions and authorizations necessary for the relevant financial transactions will be granted by the United States of America.
Paragraph 7
The United States of America commits to ending all types of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, including UN Security Council resolutions, IAEA Board of Governors resolutions, and all U.S. unilateral sanctions, primary and secondary, on a schedule to be agreed upon as part of the final agreement. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America recognize the critical importance of the issue of ending the above-mentioned sanctions and express the intention to immediately address these issues in negotiations in order to reach mutual consensus on them.
Paragraph 8
The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it will not acquire or develop nuclear weapons. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agreed to resolve the disposition of the stockpiled enriched material through a mechanism to be mutually agreed, in accordance with the schedule mentioned in Paragraph 7, with the minimum methodology being the dilution of the enrichment on site, under the supervision of the IAEA. The two sides also agreed to discuss the issue of enrichment and other mutually agreed topics related to the nuclear needs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, based on the legal framework to be defined in the final agreement. The final agreement will confirm the provisions of this paragraph. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran recognize the critical importance of the above-mentioned nuclear issues and express the intention to immediately address them in negotiation in order to reach mutual agreement on them.
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Paragraph 9
Until the final agreement is reached, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree to maintain the status quo. The Islamic Republic of Iran will maintain the current status of its nuclear program, and the United States of America will not impose new sanctions or send additional forces to the region.
Paragraph 10
The United States of America undertakes, immediately upon signing this memorandum, and until the end of sanctions, to have the US Treasury Department issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum derivatives and related products, as well as all associated services, including banking, insurance, transportation, etc.
Paragraph 11
The United States of America commits to making the frozen or restricted funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran fully available for use upon implementation of this memorandum. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will mutually agree on procedures related to the release of these resources during negotiations. These funds, whether held in the original account or transferred, must be fully available for payment to any final beneficiary designated by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America undertakes to issue all necessary licenses and authorizations in this regard.
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Paragraph 12
The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree that an executive mechanism will be established to monitor the successful implementation of this memorandum and future compliance with the final agreement.
Paragraph 13
Following the signing of this memorandum and subject to the commencement of implementation of Paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 10 and 11 of this document, as well as the continued implementation of these measures, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will begin negotiations on the final agreement exclusively with respect to the remaining paragraphs.
Paragraph 14
The final agreement will be ratified by a binding UN Security Council resolution.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
