US-Iran MoU Status: Technical Engineering Completed Under "Relief for Performance" Model, But Text Awaits Trump's Signature

US-Iran MoU Status: Technical Engineering Completed Under "Relief for Performance" Model, But Text Awaits Trump's Signature

Draft 60-day MoU establishes mandatory demining of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to illegal tolls in exchange for a proportional suspension of the US naval blockade. Final validation enters political holding pattern.

High-level negotiations to end the three-month conflict between the United States and Iran have reached their definitive technical stage. Official White House sources confirmed that negotiators from both powers have finalized the framework for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a 60-day truce. While the operational document is ready, the current status of the agreement is in a political holding pattern, depending exclusively on the final endorsement of President Donald Trump and the last language adjustments demanded by Tehran.

US Vice President JD Vance confirmed that Washington and Tehran have made "a lot of progress" and that the Iranians have demonstrated good faith at the negotiating table, mediated by Pakistan. However, Vance noted that President Trump is still evaluating specific clauses. According to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the White House maintains three non-negotiable "red lines" as prerequisites: the unrestricted reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the surrender of highly enriched uranium stockpiles, and the definitive halt of Tehran's nuclear program.

Technical Details Within the Memorandum

Unlike previous announcements, the current status of the draft memorandum details a rigorous "relief for performance" model, under which American economic countermeasures will only be released following concrete steps by Iran:

Demining and End of Tolls: Iran will have a mandatory 30-day deadline to remove all naval mines deployed in the Strait of Hormuz. The text stipulates that the traffic of commercial vessels and oil tankers will be "unrestricted," strictly prohibiting the collection of illegal fees or tolls that Tehran attempted to institute through a newly created regulatory agency.

 

Proportional Flexibility: In direct exchange for these actions, the US will carry out a gradual lifting of the naval blockade on Iranian ports (in effect since April 13) and issue temporary sanctions waivers to allow Iran to freely trade oil during the 60-day period.

Regional Security and Safeguards: US Armed Forces deployed in the region will remain positioned throughout the duration of the truce. The document provides that the ceasefire can be unilaterally revoked by Washington if the Iranians fail to demonstrate seriousness in atomic discussions. Furthermore, regional allies, such as Israel, retain the right to act should Hezbollah attempt to rearm in Lebanon.

Warnings to Allies and Market Reaction

The status of the pact has already sent shockwaves through the global economy. Technical optimism caused stock markets to trade at historic highs and triggered an immediate drop of more than 1% in oil prices, with Brent crude falling to the $92.54 range.

Washington's rigidity regarding the terms of the memorandum was made clear by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's public warning to the government of Oman. The US Treasury threatened to aggressively sanction Omani institutions and individuals if the country collaborates with Iran in facilitating any toll system in the Strait, prompting the Omani embassy to issue immediate assurances that it will not support Tehran's initiative.

While Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency adopts a cautious tone, stating that the text is not formally sealed in order to protect the regime from internal military pressure, diplomacy awaits the outcome in the coming hours: Donald Trump's final pen stroke will determine whether the 60-day plan is activated or if hostilities will resume.