President Donald Trump announced a detailed memorandum of understanding with Iran on Thursday, June 11, 2024, to prevent the nation from acquiring nuclear weapons [1, 2].
The agreement represents a potential pivot in U.S. foreign policy, seeking to replace active hostilities with a formal settlement to ensure regional stability.
Speaking from the Oval Office in Washington, D.C., Trump said the agreement is a peace settlement intended to end the ongoing conflict with Iran [1, 3]. He said the memorandum is a strong framework for a final deal. "It's a very strong memorandum of understanding," Trump said. "That is a little conceptual, but it's something that's going to get done" [1].
Central to the agreement is the prohibition of Iranian nuclear capabilities. Trump said, "They will not have a nuclear weapon. They've agreed to that" [1]. The memorandum has received approval from Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei [1, 4].
Formal signing of the memorandum could occur as soon as the weekend of June 13-14, 2024 [5]. The deal includes specific economic incentives tied to maritime security. Reports indicate that temporary sanctions waivers would allow Iran to sell oil for 60 days after the Strait of Hormuz reopens [6].
The announcement comes amid conflicting reports regarding immediate military action. While some reports indicated Trump called off planned strikes on Iran due to the breakthrough [4], other accounts suggested a post on Truth Social indicated the U.S. would strike Iran that night [3].
Further tension remains regarding the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. has denied claims made by Iran that the strait was closed during a recent exchange of fire [5]. However, the current memorandum aims to reopen the waterway without tolls as part of the broader de-escalation effort [6].
“"They will not have a nuclear weapon. They've agreed to that,"”
This memorandum of understanding attempts to resolve a long-standing security dilemma by linking nuclear non-proliferation directly to economic relief and maritime access. By tying oil sanctions waivers to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. is using economic leverage to ensure the flow of global energy while attempting to permanently block Iran's path to a nuclear weapon.
