draft memorandum – Iranian state media published a draft 14-point memorandum with the United States that would extend a ceasefire, reopen commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and create room to negotiate over Iran’s nuclear program. President Donald Trump said the d
By Thursday morning, the Strait of Hormuz looked like it could become busy again. But in the same news cycle, Tehran made sure the world understood one key point: the paperwork is not the same as approval.
Iranian state media published details of a proposed memorandum of understanding with the United States, putting on record what it described as the clearest public framework yet for pausing the latest fighting and reopening one of the world’s most important shipping lanes.
The draft—described as a 14-point memorandum—would reportedly extend the current ceasefire for 60 days. reopen commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. and create space for additional negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. It would also ease some sanctions on Iran during the negotiating period while allowing oil exports to resume under limited terms.
President Donald Trump, speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, moved the proposal closer to the finish line. He described it as “a very strong memorandum of understanding” and said it would soon be signed. “That is a little conceptual, but it’s something that’s going to get done,” Trump said. “And if it doesn’t get done for any reason. which I can’t imagine that not happening. they want to sign it as much as I do or more.”.
Trump also said Vice President JD Vance could travel to Europe within days for a formal signing ceremony.
Even as the draft circulated publicly. Iran kept its hands off the phrase “final agreement.” Iran’s Foreign Ministry has not endorsed the proposal. and Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Iran has not reached a final conclusion. He accused Washington of introducing new demands during the negotiating process.
The shift is still striking: state-affiliated Iranian outlets have shown willingness to discuss the framework publicly, which contrasts with earlier rounds of diplomacy when officials frequently denied negotiations were making meaningful progress.
The urgency around the Strait of Hormuz is rooted in how quickly the conflict has flared. The emerging framework comes after one of the most volatile stretches of the confrontation in months.
Earlier this week, U.S. warships launched Tomahawk missile strikes against targets in Iran. Iran responded with attacks targeting U.S. partners in the Gulf region, including Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained heavily disrupted, raising fears about global energy supplies and oil prices.
On Thursday morning, Trump threatened additional military action and publicly floated the possibility of taking control of Kharg Island, the terminal that handles most Iranian crude exports.
In the narrow space between strikes and negotiation, the memo details are now pushing the story forward. But Baqaei’s insistence that no final conclusion has been reached keeps the next step—signing—on shaky ground, even as Trump predicts it is essentially already decided.
Strait of Hormuz Iran nuclear program ceasefire extension Tomahawk missile strikes Kharg Island U.S. Iran diplomacy sanctions relief shipping lanes Donald Trump JD Vance Esmaeil Baqaei