Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency has pushed back strongly against recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a purported Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Washington and Tehran, describing his remarks as “a mix of truth and lies” designed to project a false image of victory.
According to informed Iranian sources cited by Fars, while an MoU is in the final stages of internal ratification in Iran, no final decision has been made. The sources emphasized that several of Trump’s public claims directly contradict the text of the agreement.
Key Points of Dispute
- Strait of Hormuz
Trump claimed that Iran would be required to open the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping without imposing any fees. Iranian sources firmly denied this, stating that no such clause exists in the MoU.
Instead, once any naval blockade is lifted, Iran intends to manage the strategically vital waterway according to its own “predetermined arrangements.” These could include enhanced monitoring and inspection of vessels, as well as providing security and logistical services. Iranian officials are reportedly already preparing the necessary infrastructure for these operations.
- Enriched Uranium Stockpile
The U.S. President also asserted that Iran had agreed to dismantle or destroy its stockpile of enriched uranium. Sources described this claim as “fundamentally baseless,” stressing that the MoU contains no provision requiring Iran to eliminate its enriched material.
Iranian Red Lines and Unaddressed Demands
Iranian sources highlighted several critical elements of the agreement that Trump’s statements notably omitted:
▪️Immediate Release of $12 Billion in Frozen Assets: According to the text, this sum must be transferred to Iran immediately. Tehran has made clear it will not proceed with any further negotiations until this condition is fully met.
▪️Ceasefire in Lebanon: Iran views a ceasefire in Lebanon as a prerequisite for deeper discussions.
The sources stated that only after these core demands are satisfied will Iran be willing to engage in broader talks on the lifting of all sanctions and the nuclear file, while strictly adhering to its established red lines.
The reported MoU comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, with ongoing concerns over Iran’s nuclear program, regional proxy conflicts, and the security of global energy routes through the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes.
While the White House has portrayed recent diplomatic efforts as a significant breakthrough, Iranian officials appear cautious, framing the current situation as a preliminary understanding rather than a finalized deal. The divergence in public narratives from both sides underscores the deep mistrust that continues to characterize U.S.-Iran relations.
As of now, neither the U.S. State Department nor Iranian Foreign Ministry has released the full text of the alleged MoU, leaving room for continued speculation and competing interpretations.
