Iran Nears U.S. Interim Deal as Rial Strengthens to 1.68 Million per Dollar
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jun 14
Iran Nears U.S. Interim Deal as Rial Strengthens to 1.68 Million per Dollar
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jun 14
Summary
Qatari mediators arrived in Tehran on Sunday as Iran and the United States moved close to a first-stage interim agreement after more than 100 days of hostilities, though signing still appeared vulnerable to delay.
Markets reacted quickly: the rial firmed to below 1.68 million per dollar, Emami gold coins fell about 5% to 1.71 billion rials, and Tehran's main stock index rose 123,000 points to a record near 4.82 million.
Hardline resistance intensified in Tehran, Qom and Mashhad, with IRGC-linked Fars signaling no Sunday signing, lawmakers denouncing concessions, and critics openly targeting chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
The backlash has reopened debate over who can legitimize a deal, even as Hassan Khomeini urged loyalists to accept any final decision approved by Mojtaba Khamenei and the Supreme National Security Council.
Israel remained a key spoiler risk: Benjamin Netanyahu ordered strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs on Sunday, a move Iranian observers cast as an attempt to provoke Tehran and derail the emerging accord.
As Iran hides weapon-usable uranium, can any new deal truly prevent the secret development of a nuclear bomb?
With a peace deal near, will global shipping soon face a new permanent 'toll' to pass through the Strait of Hormuz?
US-Iran Crisis: Qatar’s Mediation, the 60-Day MOU, and the Battle for Regional Stability
Overview
On June 14, 2026, a Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran to advance talks on a proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Iran and the United States. The delegation held key consultations with Iranian officials, continuing vital exchanges between Washington and Tehran. Iranian diplomat Abbas Araghchi revealed that a 14-point MOU is under review, structured in two stages: an immediate agreement followed by a 60-day negotiation period to address complex issues. This breakthrough, driven by Qatar’s mediation, marks a significant step toward easing tensions and potentially resolving longstanding disputes between the two countries.