Iran and the United States have signed a memorandum outlining a proposed 60-day ceasefire and a roadmap for negotiations on sanctions, nuclear restrictions and regional security issues.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has electronically signed a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding with the United States, setting out conditions for a temporary halt in hostilities and the launch of structured negotiations aimed at reaching a final settlement.
Speaking to AnewZ, analyst Melih Demirtaş cautioned against interpreting the document as a completed agreement.
“It is a memorandum of understanding… not the final diplomatic agreement,” he said, describing it instead as a process where both sides are “just sitting together and maybe talking and deciding about the final result.”
He added that the framework should be viewed as a negotiation phase rather than an enforceable commitment.
The memorandum establishes a 60-day ceasefire period, which may be extended by mutual consent, to create space for broader negotiations. During this period, both sides are expected to avoid military escalation and maintain a negotiated status quo.
Key implementation measures include a phased reduction of U.S. naval restrictions, reportedly to be completed within 30 days, alongside reciprocal guarantees from Iran to ensure toll-free commercial navigation between the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.
The document explicitly calls for the “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon”, placing Lebanon at the centre of the wider regional security framework.
Demirtaş described Lebanon as a critical “test” for regional stability, warning that it reflects deeper fault lines shaped by political and sectarian dynamics across the Middle East. He also noted that regional rhetoric surrounding Lebanon has heightened diplomatic sensitivities among key stakeholders.
The memorandum outlines a phased sanctions relief framework, including waivers for Iranian oil exports, the suspension of unilateral U.S. sanctions and the eventual removal of broader international restrictions linked to United Nations and nuclear-related measures.
It also refers to the release of frozen Iranian assets once implementation conditions have been met, alongside a proposed regional reconstruction package worth approximately $300 billion. However, no operational funding mechanism has yet been detailed.
Iran reaffirms its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons under the terms of the document. The handling of enriched uranium stockpiles is expected to follow a mutually agreed mechanism under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Both sides also commit to avoiding new sanctions or military deployments during the negotiation period, maintaining existing conditions until a final agreement is reached.
The text includes temporary arrangements for commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman, including limited toll-free passage and adjustments to maritime restrictions during the ceasefire period.
Negotiations are reportedly being facilitated through Pakistani intermediaries, with discussions continuing over the timing and location of formal peace talks.
The memorandum states that any final agreement would be subject to endorsement through a binding United Nations Security Council resolution, a provision Iran says is intended to ensure mutual compliance.
Iranian officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, have presented the document as being based on reciprocity, while Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that diplomatic channels remain active as efforts continue to finalise the start of negotiations.
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Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 8th of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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Massive crowds are gathering in the streets of Tehran on Monday for the funeral procession of Iran's slain former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, as part of a week-long farewell. His son and designated successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, has yet to make a public appearance.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict was "over", adding he did not want to engage with Tehran, calling the Iranian leadership "sick people".
Wednesday marks the fifth day of the massive public farewell funeral processions of its former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a U.S.-Israeli air strike in February.
The U.S. says it has launched strikes on Iran after alleged attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington described the action as a response to threats against civilian shipping and a breach of the ceasefire.
At least two commercial vessels were damaged by missile strikes near the Strait of Hormuz late on Monday (6 July).
Massive crowds are gathering in the streets of Tehran on Monday for the funeral procession of Iran's slain former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, as part of a week-long farewell. His son and designated successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, has yet to make a public appearance.
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