US Proposal to Iran Includes Reconstruction Fund, Oil Exports, Unfreezing Funds, Sanctions Relief

Thorniest Issues Left for Future "Final Deal"

I’ve learned details on the latest proposal from the US to Iran to end the war which includes significant financial concessions to Iran.

As expected, it would be a multi-step process, building on a previous 14-point proposal. The proposal is a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that sets up negotiations toward a “final deal.” It kicks the can down the road on the toughest issues so that the war can end.

Most notable: a large economic fund for damages to Iran, waivers on Iranian oil sales, eventual unfreezing of funds, lifting of sanctions and nothing firm on nuclear enrichment.

Some details were previously reported by Al Arabiya and Axios. The White House did not deny the details and repeated that “Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.”

In the agreement, which would be signed in Islamabad, the terms the US has offered Iran to include:

• Immediate end to military operations including Lebanon and no more threats of force against each other.

• The MOU leads to negotiations on a “final deal” to officially end the war. Axios reported earlier that would be 30 days of talks, I heard it’s now longer and could be extended.

• Discussions of nuclear enrichment, removal of enriched material discussed later in the final deal. Iran commits in the MOU to never develop a nuclear weapon.

• A large economic reconstruction plan for Iran, to be developed by the US and its allies in the region. How it works exactly is part of the final deal.

• The US will unfreeze Iranian funds as talks progress.

• All US and UN sanctions - including secondary - to be lifted after a final deal which will lay out a schedule.

• Before a final deal and the lifting of sanctions, the US will issue waivers for Iranian oil exports, banking and other products/areas.

• US removes naval blockade and starts to redeploy forces after MOU is agreed to. Pre-war maritime traffic restored within 30 days. US forces removed from near Iran within a month of a final deal.

• The UN Security Council will eventually bless a final deal.

After publication, a White House official responded: “President Trump has made his redlines in negotiations clear. Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, and they must turn over their enriched uranium. Any agreement must contain these items because the President will only accept a deal that puts America First.”

This article was updated with a statement from the White House.