AlArabia has published what it claims is the:
Final draft of [the] preliminary US-Iran memorandum of understanding.
I am pretty sure it is not a draft Iran has seen or even in parts committed to.
It is a U.S. wishlist with lots of points that have no tangible outcome, process or date attached to them. It points to undefined “agreed upon arrangements” and “interim understandings”. Without those being written down and followed by the letter the whole thing is useless.
Excerpts:
- Reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international navigation, guaranteeing the free passage of commercial vessels and oil tankers without additional transit fees, with the Iranian side committing to take the necessary technical and security measures to ensure the safety of navigation, including the removal of mines and maritime obstacles according to agreed-upon arrangements
- Enabling the Islamic Republic of Iran to resume the sale and export of oil within the framework of the interim understandings agreed upon by the two parties
- …
- Consideration will be given to suspending or easing some sanctions related to the Iranian oil sector in phases, in accordance with the implementation of mutual understandings and commitments
- The necessity of ending military operations and de-escalation on all regional fronts, including the Lebanese arena, will be emphasized, along with working towards establishing a comprehensive regional de-escalation
If that is the real state of the negotiations the whole thing will go nowhere.
Being in week twelve of his two week war on Iran there is no way left for Trump to escape the damage he has caused to the global economy and his own standing.
The best way out for him is for Congress to vote against the continuation of the war. It would give Trump the necessary excuse to recall the troops from the Middle East and to draw the attention elsewhere.
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