The new detail in the US-Iran ceasefire deal

What's changed in the latest version of the US-Iran ceasefire deal Thu 18 Jun 2026 at 7:22am The White House has published the terms of its deal with Iran to end the Middle East war, after days of fevered speculation and leaks about the pact. It was released moments after US President Donald Trump used a press conference in France, where he had been attending the G7 Summit, to reject criticism of the agreement and dismiss its detractors. But the text of the memorandum of understanding (MOU), as read out during a phone briefing by a senior Trump administration official, is broadly in line with previous reporting. Although, there is more detail on some of the most contentious issues, such as the handling of Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles and the end to fighting in Lebanon. The deal is due to be formally signed in a ceremony in Switzerland on Friday, although Trump has started to equivocate on whether pen will hit paper. "We're going to most likely sign a deal. They want to sign a deal. And they've been acting very appropriately," he said. The US president also quipped he was still considering whether to stay in Europe to personally attend the signing. He was asked whether the decision to send his vice-president, JD Vance, was a way to insulate him if the agreement fell over. "This way, if it works out, I take the credit. If it doesn't work out, I'm blaming JD," he said. Trump also said Israel had seen a copy of the deal, despite Israeli media reporting its request for visibility had been rejected and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying he did not know the full terms during a press conference earlier this week. What's changed in this version of the deal Lebanon Read moreThe text released by the White House makes more specific comments about the situation in Lebanon. Paragraph one of the deal, leaked days ago, outlined an "immediate and permanent" end to fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon, which is something Iran had been demanding for months, given its support for its proxy, Hezbollah. Israel has been frustrated at that, worried it's being forced to yield to the group, which has been firing upon communities in northern Israel since early March. But in recent days, a dispute has emerged over the future of Israeli forces inside seized and occupied Lebanese territory. Netanyahu insisted his country's troops would remain inside southern Lebanon for as long as is necessary, in line with its policy to hold a "buffer" or "security zone" beyond Israel's northern border. Iran had immediately responded, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi having said Tehran demanded a withdrawal of Israeli forces. The text released by the White House said the US, Iran and its allies must ensure "the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon", which is something that appears to go to that issue of ongoing occupation. Fighting has continued between Israel and Hezbollah, with more Israeli strikes reported and explosive Hezbollah drones launched at Israeli soldiers, injuring five. "[Iran] have to get a collar on their dog in Hezbollah and they've got to hold them back," a White House official said. "And if Hezbollah attacks Israel, Israel is going to have the full ability to go and attack back." The 'nuclear dust' Read moreDebate has raged about how Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium, or "nuclear dust" as Trump calls it, will be handled. Another apparent addition to the text is the detail that the stockpile must be "down-blended", a term that means effectively diluting it with already depleted or lower-quality uranium, meaning it's no longer potent enough for use in potential weapons manufacturing. "That's a floor, and we will push for more than that," a Trump administration official said. The inclusion of such a term, along with a commitment for that process to be supervised by the international nuclear watchdog, was described as "a major, major win for the United States of America" by the official. The specifics around timing of the down-blending, and the ongoing custody of the stockpile, would be discussed along with other issues during the 60-day ceasefire and negotiating period. At the moment, the text does not demand the material be shipped out of the country. Management of the Strait of Hormuz Read moreIn recent days, Iranian state media has been reporting Tehran will start charging fees to ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz after the initial 60-day truce. That was despite Trump's insistence that the shipping lane would reopen with "no tolls". The newly released text says "no charge for 60 days only", which seems to back up this point and fly in the face of the US's constant demand that the strait needs to return to pre-war arrangements. The text also says Iran has to discuss ongoing management of the strait with Oman, the country directly across the waterway from Iran, and other Persian Gulf states. The White House is touting that part of the MOU as having been sharpened. "Of course, I'm sure the Iranians will assert their rights as aggressively as they can," a senior official said. "The Persian Gulf states will never agree to an arrangement that doesn't permit toll-free access for themselves and their industries." Missiles and proxies Read moreEarlier leaked versions of the deal explicitly stated that the issues around Iran's missile program and its support for other groups across the region — read that as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthis in Yemen, among others — would not be part of the deal. That wording does not exist in the text now released by the White House. Although in his earlier press conference, Trump suggested those issues remained off the negotiating table. What remains the same The substance of the rest of the deal remains broadly similar, and 60 days remains a very short timeframe to achieve an agreement on some of the more intractable issues. The deal still sets out a commitment for $US300 billion ($424 billion) in financing for the rebuilding of Iran, with the specific details to be sorted out during the 60-day period. For most of the day, Trump distanced himself from that detail and insisted the US would not be pouring money into Tehran. But, he said he could not stop others from "investing" in the fund. The president also sought to differentiate giving US funds to Tehran from unfreezing Iranian assets, saying the latter belonged to the regime but had been seized. The full text of the deal Paragraph 1 Read moreThe United States and The Islamic Republic of Iran and their allies in the current war, by signing of this Memorandum of Understanding declare an immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and undertake from now not to initiate any war or any military operation against each other, and to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other and ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon. The final deal will confirm the permanent termination of the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon and other provisions of this paragraph. Paragraph 2 Read moreThe United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran undertake to respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to refrain from interfering in each other's internal affairs. Paragraph 3 Read moreThe United States and Islamic Republic of Iran commit to negotiating and achieving the final deal in maximum 60 days, extendable with mutual consent. Paragraph 4 Read moreImmediately upon the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, the United States of America will begin the removal of its naval blockade and any disturbances or impediments against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and fully end the naval blockade within 30 days. During this period the traffic of vessels will be in proportion to the numbers of pre-war traffic being restored by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States also undertakes to remove its forces from the proximity of the Islamic Republic of Iran within 30 days after the final deal. Paragraph 5 Read moreUpon the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, the Islamic Republic of Iran will make arrangements, using its best efforts, for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days only from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa. The traffic of commercial vessels will immediately start and considering the needs for removing the technical and military obstacles and de-mining by the Republic of Iran, will be instated within 30 days. The Islamic Republic of Iran will conduct dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman, to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz in discussion with other Persian Gulf littoral states, in line with the applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz. Paragraph 6 Read moreThe United States undertakes, together with regional partners, to develop a definitive, mutually agreed plan with at least USD $300 billion for the reconstruction and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The mechanism of the implementation of this plan will be finalized as part of a final deal within 60 days. All required licenses, waivers and permissions needed for the relevant financial transactions will be granted by the United States of America. Paragraph 7 Read moreThe United States undertakes to terminate all types of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, including resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and all unilateral U.S. sanctions, primary and secondary, in an agreed-upon schedule as part of a final deal. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America acknowledge the critical importance of the sanctions termination issue above mentioned, and express their intentions to immediately address this issues in the negotiations in order to achieve mutual agreement on them Paragraph 8 Read moreThe Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons. The US & Islamic Republic of Iran have agreed to resolve the disposition of stockpiled enriched material pursuant to a mechanism that will be mutually agreed upon in accordance with the schedule mentioned in paragraph 7, with the minimal methodology to be down blending on site under the supervision of the IAEA. The two parties also agree to discuss the issue of enrichment and other mutually agreed matters relating to the Republic of Iran's nuclear needs based on a satisfactory framework being agreed upon in the final deal. The final deal will confirm the provisions of this paragraph. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran acknowledge the critical importance of the nuclear issues above mentioned, and express their intention to immediately address these issues in the negotiation in order to achieve mutual agreement on them. Paragraph 9 Read morePending the final deal, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree to maintain the status quo. The Islamic Republic of Iran will maintain the current status quo of its nuclear program, and the United States of America will not impose any new sanctions, and will not deploy additional forces in the region. Paragraph 10 Read moreThe United States of America undertakes that immediately upon the signing of this M.O.U., and until the termination of sanctions, U.S. Department of Treasury will issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives, and all associated services, including banking transactions, insurances, transportation, etc. Paragraph 11 Read moreThe United States of America undertakes to make fully available for use the frozen or restricted funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran upon the implementation of this M.O.U. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will mutually agree on the procedures related to the release of these funds during the negotiations. Such funds, whether retained in the original account or transferred, shall be made fully usable for payment to any ultimate beneficiary designated by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America undertakes to issue all necessary licenses and authorizations accordingly. Paragraph 12 Read moreThe United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran agree that an executive mechanism will be established to monitor the successful implementation of this M.O.U. and the future compliance of the final deal. Paragraph 13 Read moreAfter signing this M.O.U. and subject to the beginning of the implementation of Paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 10 and 11 of this M.O.U., and the continuing implementation of these measures, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will start negotiations regarding the final deal exclusively on the other paragraphs. Paragraph 14 Read moreThe final deal will be endorsed by a binding U.N.S.C. resolution.