The Iran-US MoU most recently refers to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a diplomatic concept signed on June 17, 2026, to declare the immediate and permanent termination of military operations between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. This Memorandum of Understanding is a preliminary agreement, not a final treaty, that was brokered primarily by Pakistan to solve the problem of the 2026 Iran war.
The MoU functions as a framework for de-escalation and future negotiations, replacing the previous 2026 Iran war ceasefire. Key provisions include a mutual undertaking by both parties to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other. The US committed to begin removing its naval blockade and fully end it within 30 days. Economically, the US undertook to issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products, and associated services (Paragraph 10), and to release frozen or restricted Iranian funds (Paragraph 11). Crucially, the agreement stipulates that Iran will maintain the status quo on its nuclear program, while the US will not impose any new sanctions or deploy additional forces in the region (Paragraph 9).
The MoU connects to the broader history of US-Iran agreements, notably the Algiers Accords of January 19, 1981, which resolved the Iran Hostage Crisis and established the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal. It also relates to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 nuclear deal, as both represent diplomatic efforts to manage Iran's nuclear program and sanctions. The MoU is a new agreement, not an amendment, but it is intended to be replaced by a "final deal" to be negotiated within a maximum of 60 days and endorsed by a binding UN Security Council resolution.