Bloomberg has published what it claims to be the text of the 14-point draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) ending the United States’ war to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
If accurate, the deal described by Bloomberg snatches strategic defeat from tactical victory, and is a stunning victory for jihadists who were all but destroyed in Operation Epic Fury.
In particular, as the sequencing is now confirmed, Article 13 of the actual document makes the sequencing explicit. Iran will not enter final negotiations until Articles 4, 5, 10, and 11 are implemented first.
Articles 4, 5, 10, and 11 are about the US lifting the naval blockade, Iranian shipping restored to pre-war volume, US Treasury waivers for Iranian crude oil exports, and frozen Iranian assets released and made fully available.
As a practical matter, this sequence of actions irreversibly eliminates our leverage for upcoming negotiations over the next sixty days that will, inevitably, be extended until Iran is ready to resume hostilities.
And, as our friend Frank Gaffney observed in a widely circulated social media post, “It is predictable that, far from being a winning issue for the midterm elections, the Iranians will do whatever they can to rub the President’s nose in the failure this deal palpably represents.
“The regime will, among other things, make no secret of its regrouping and arming, its intensified repression the abandoned people of Iran and perhaps even its covert acquisition of a nuclear arsenal by simply buying weapons (if it hasn’t already done so).
“As the deal will make irresistible the dissipation of U.S. forces mobilized in the region for far too long, they know that – logistically as well as politically – President Trump will be unable to respond decisively to their humiliations.”
According to Bloomberg’s reporting the MOU states the following:
1. By signing this memorandum of understanding, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, along with their respective allies in the ongoing war, declare an immediate and final end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon. They pledge not to initiate any hostile acts against each other and to refrain from threatening or using force against either of them. The final agreement will confirm the provisions of this article and the remaining articles.
2. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States pledge to respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and to refrain from interfering in each other's internal affairs.
3. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States pledge to negotiate and reach a final agreement within a maximum period of 60 days, extendable by mutual agreement.
4. Upon the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, the United States will lift the naval blockade and refrain from any interference or obstruction against the Islamic Republic of Iran. It will restore maritime traffic to its full capacity within a maximum period of 30 days, with shipping traffic commensurate with pre-war levels.
The United States also undertakes to withdraw its forces from the surrounding areas within 30 days of the final agreement.
5. Upon the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, the Islamic Republic of Iran will immediately take steps to ensure the resumption of commercial shipping traffic from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa within 30 days to pre-war levels, subject to the removal of technical obstacles and mines by Iran.
6. The United States undertakes to cooperate with its regional partners to develop a comprehensive, mutually agreed-upon plan for the rehabilitation and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with guaranteed funding of at least $300 billion. The implementation mechanism for this plan will be established as part of the final agreement within 60 days.
7. The United States commits to ending all types of sanctions currently imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran according to a timetable to be agreed upon as part of the final agreement, including UN Security Council and IAEA Board of Governors resolutions, and all unilateral US sanctions, whether primary or secondary.
8. The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it will never produce nuclear weapons. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States have agreed that the fate of enriched materials and all other agreed-upon nuclear issues, including Iran’s nuclear needs, will be fully addressed in a final agreement, and that final agreement will reaffirm the provisions of this article.
9. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States agree that, pending the conclusion of a final agreement, they will maintain the status quo: Iran will maintain the status quo regarding its nuclear program, and the United States will not impose new sanctions on Iran or increase its forces in the region.
10. The United States undertakes that, immediately upon the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding and until the date of lifting sanctions, the U.S. Treasury Department will issue waivers for Iranian crude oil exports, petrochemical products and derivatives, and all related services, including banking, insurance, transportation, and similar services.
11. In light of progress made in negotiations toward a final agreement, the United States undertakes to release and fully make available all frozen or restricted funds and assets belonging to the Islamic Republic of Iran.
These funds, whether deposited into a master account or transferred, will be used for any final payment to the beneficiary designated by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran and will be fully available for use.
The United States undertakes to issue all necessary authorizations and licenses accordingly.
12. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States agree to establish a mechanism to oversee the successful implementation of and compliance with the final agreement going forward.
13. Following the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, and upon receiving assurances regarding the commencement of the implementation of Articles 4, 5, 10, and 11 of this Memorandum of Understanding, and the continuation of these steps, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States will enter into negotiations to reach a final agreement concerning only the remaining articles.
14. The final agreement will be ratified by a binding resolution of the United Nations Security Council.
We urge all CHQ readers and friends to share this important information widely. Forward this message to your family, friends, neighbors, church and civic club mailing lists and encourage them to call the White House comment line (202) 456-1111 to urge the President to abandon this terrible deal.
