Details emerging from a potential preliminary understanding between Iran and the United States indicate that any signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) will not restore the pre-war status of the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports from Iran’s Tasnim News Agency.
Contrary to claims by some Western media outlets that the Strait’s pre-war status could be restored within 30 days, the draft MOU reportedly stipulates only a return to pre-war transit capacity for the number of vessels passing through the strategic waterway, not a full return to previous conditions.
Iran has reiterated that it will continue to exercise its sovereign rights over the Strait of Hormuz through various means, with further details to be announced in due course.
The draft understanding reportedly includes the following key provisions:
- Naval blockade: A full lifting of the naval blockade must be completed within 30 days. Should the blockade remain in place, no changes will be made to the status of the Strait of Hormuz.
- Conditional changes: Any modifications to transit and passage through the Strait are conditional upon the implementation of other U.S. commitments outlined in the MOU.
Asset release and oil sanctions
According to Tasnim, the initial step of any agreement would require the release of a portion of Iran’s frozen assets. Tehran has insisted that any preliminary MoU is conditional on the release of a minimum amount of these assets in a manner that allows full access by Iranian entities.
Over the past weeks, the United States reportedly sought to link the release of these assets to a potential final agreement on Iran’s nuclear file. However, Iran has successfully pressed for the release of at least a portion from the very start of the MoU’s announcement.
Mechanisms for the release of remaining assets will be addressed during subsequent negotiations. The report warned that if the U.S. again obstructs the release, Iran will reconsider its participation in future talks.
On oil sanctions, Washington is expected to commit to a waiver period during negotiations, allowing Iran to sell its oil without current sanctions-related restrictions.
Ceasefire and withdrawal terms
The potential MoU would first declare an end to hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon, against Iran and its allies. Under this clause, “Israel”, as a U.S. ally, would be required to end the war on Lebanon.
A 30-day period would then be dedicated to implementing measures related to the naval blockade and the Strait of Hormuz. Concurrently, a 60-day period would be set aside for negotiations on the nuclear file. Notably, Iran has not accepted any nuclear-related measures at this stage.
Furthermore, the United States would commit to withdrawing its combat forces from Iran’s regional periphery, in line with other clauses Tehran has emphasized.
U.S. and Iran reportedly near agreement
This closely follows a report by Axios citing a U.S. official familiar with the talks, stating that the United States and Iran are nearing a draft agreement that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, ease pressure on global oil markets, and launch a new round of talks over Tehran’s nuclear program.
The proposed deal, which mediators and President Donald Trump have suggested could be announced as early as Sunday, would establish a 60-day ceasefire framework that could later be extended by mutual consent. However, officials cautioned that talks remain ongoing and the agreement could still collapse before being finalized.
According to the U.S. official, both sides would sign a memorandum of understanding under which Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, remove naval mines deployed in the waterway, and allow unrestricted maritime traffic to resume. In return, Washington would lift its blockade on Iranian ports and issue sanctions waivers enabling Tehran to freely export oil.
The official acknowledged that the arrangement would provide a major boost to Iran’s economy, but argued that it would also stabilize global energy markets by restoring oil flows through one of the world’s most strategically important shipping lanes.