Mehr Publishes US-Iran Draft Seeking 50% Asset Release and Strait Control
Updated
Updated · Institute for the Study of War · Jun 12
Mehr Publishes US-Iran Draft Seeking 50% Asset Release and Strait Control
3 articles · Updated · Institute for the Study of War · Jun 12
Summary
June 12 reports from Mehr and other Iranian outlets circulated a draft US-Iran MoU that would let Tehran retain management of the Strait of Hormuz, win sanctions relief and secure a US-funded reconstruction plan.
The leaked terms point to IRGC influence over the talks, with outlets tied to the Guards amplifying the draft even as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged media to stop speculating and another hardline faction described different terms.
Those competing accounts suggest rival Iranian camps may be pushing separate drafts through different mediators, despite Araghchi saying a deal has "never been closer" and reports that neither Mojtaba Khamenei nor the IRGC has approved the latest text.
Washington and Tehran also appear far apart on substance and sequencing: US officials say Iran must dismantle its nuclear program and gets relief only after compliance, while Iranian media say missiles, proxies and new nuclear commitments are excluded and demand 50% of frozen assets up front.
The dispute matters beyond diplomacy because Iran is still asserting leverage in Hormuz—where US forces reportedly intercepted 2 Iranian attack drones targeting commercial shipping on June 11—raising doubts that any deal would curb Tehran's coercive control of the waterway.
With Iran's regime publicly divided, who actually has the power to agree to a deal and make it stick?
As Iran's economy nears collapse, will its hardline leaders choose a ceasefire deal or risk a nationwide uprising?
The US-Iran Islamabad Memorandum: Immediate Developments, Core Disagreements, and Global Repercussions
Overview
The United States and Iran are in the final stages of negotiating a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that has recently attracted significant public attention after being shared in Iranian state media. As of June 13, 2026, Iran’s Foreign Minister described the agreement as 'never been closer' to finalization, though it still needs review and approval by Iranian institutions. The MoU’s core commitment is that Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon, with possible steps like down-blending enriched uranium under UN supervision. However, Iran’s foreign ministry has stated that no final decision has been made yet, highlighting ongoing internal deliberations.