— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency:

‘Based on the latest exchanged text, in the event of signing a Memorandum of Understanding, the Strait of Hormuz will remain under Iranian management.

Although Iran has agreed to allow the number of passing ships to return to pre-war levels, this in no way means ‘free passage’ to the pre-war status-quo.

Accordingly, the management of the strait, route determination, timing, method of passage, and issuance of permits will remain exclusively under the planning and control of the Islamic Republic of Iran.‘

@Middle_East_Spectator

They’re saying a lot of things, but what they’re not saying is TOLLS.

Management is fun and all, but the only thing that truly matters is tolls.

Have to wait and see.

—❗️🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NEW: The MoU includes the withdrawal of the U.S. Navy from the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea, and the release of more than $12 Billion worth of Iranian assets – Al Mayadeen

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇺🇸 NEW: More than 20 shots fired at the White House – CBS

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇺🇸 NEW: Secret Service snipers on the White House roof

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇺🇸 WATCH: The moment shots were fired at the White House

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸 NEW: One suspect is down, situation is under control

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇷🇺/🇺🇦 NEW: Russia launched two hypersonic ‘Oreshnik’ IRBMs at Ukraine

Crazy footage shows MIRVs (multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles) impacting Kiev region.

These missiles are normally only used for delivering nuclear warheads, and are almost impossible to intercept.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NEW: In a delusional piece, the New York Times now claims that Iran has agreed to give up its stockpile of enriched uranium

When you actually read the article, they admit that it ‘remains unclear how or when Iran would hand it over’, and that Iran only made a commitment (which I even doubt).

The media are working around the clock to make this deal look more acceptable to the MAGA audience.

@Middle_East_Spectator

Goodnight, and good luck to those still covering Ukraine, couldn’t be me

—❗️🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NEW: As expected, Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency now reports there is an ongoing dispute about two clauses of the MoU

Apparently, one of these has to do with the unfreezing of Iran’s blocked assets. The U.S. had agreed to unfreeze a portion up front, and the rest later through a mechanism — but they are now refusing any payments up front.

Tasnim clarifies that if U.S. obstruction continues, no Memorandum of Understanding will be signed.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷/🇮🇱/🇦🇪 NEW: Iranian air defenses shot down an Israeli ‘Orbiter’ surveillance drone trying to enter Iran’s airspace in Hormozgan Province

The drone, which is a short-range type, was likely launched from the coast of the UAE towards southern Iran.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 Axios claims the details of the MoU are as follows:

— A 60-day ceasefire extension between both sides.

— The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with no tolls.

— The U.S. lifting its naval blockade on Iranian ports.

— Iran clearing mines deployed in the Strait of Hormuz.

— Iran committing to negotiations on suspending uranium enrichment and the removal of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

— Iran committing to never pursue nuclear weapons.

— U.S. sanctions waivers to allow Iran to sell oil freely.

— Iran negotiating over the removal of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

— The U.S. negotiating possible sanctions relief and unfreezing Iranian funds during the 60-day period.

— U.S. forces that were mobilized in recent months would stay in the region during the 60-day period and only withdraw if a final deal is reached.

— The end of the Israel-Hezbollah war under the framework of the agreement but ‘Israel preserves freedom of action’.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NOTE: We obviously know Axios (and Barak Ravid) are highly problematic and unreliable, but if this list is actually true, it is a bad deal for Iran for several reasons

Although it also cannot be portrayed as a definite victory for the United States, this is much less than Iran should deserve after the end of the war.

Here are some of the core issues:

1. It says no tolls. What’s the point of controlling a vital waterway if you cannot reap the economic benefits? Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, emphasized that Iran and the region must reap economic benefits from the Strait.

2. Iran committing on enrichment suspension and the removal of the enriched uranium stockpile; I personally doubt Iran will ever agree to the latter, but if they do, it’ll be a free invitation for future wars. The uranium stockpile is the only realistic leverage Iran still holds (besides Hormuz).

3. The U.S. negotiating on POSSIBLE sanctions relief, and the release of frozen Iranian assets. Firstly, sanctions relief must be absolutely guaranteed and irreversible, this should be done by a treaty through Congress or a UNSC Resolution. Simply ‘promising’ isn’t enough. And regarding the frozen funds, a large portion must be released before negotiations on nuclear matters even take place — as a confidence building measure. Iran must ensure it can actually access these funds and use them, and that it’s not just bait.

4. Perhaps the most problematic point in the entire draft is the fact that U.S. forces will remain near Iran for the duration of the subsequent negotiations. This means that, in fact, there is no end to the war at all, and the military threat continues even serving a purpose during the nuclear negotiations. Iran should insist the U.S. forces leave BEFORE any negotiations on nuclear matters take place, to remove the military threat from the negotiating table and ensure the U.S. cannot attack at any moment whenever it wants to. We already know that guarantees to prevent a war cannot be realistically and verifiably obtained, but Iran can force the U.S. to extend the ‘breakout time’ of a large scale conflict by forcing the majority of American forces to leave the region.

6. Lastly, the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. According to this Axios piece, Israel retains the right to ‘act as it pleases’ whenever they see a perceived threat. This is unacceptable, we’ve seen what this led to after the 2024 agreement — Israel striking Lebanon with impunity, and Hezbollah unable to respond. This situation must be avoided at all costs, and in reality it would not constitute a ceasefire at all.

@Middle_East_Spectator

According to a good source, there is a major last-minute crisis ongoing in the negotiations due to goalpost shifting by the U.S. — which may prevent an announcement from happening today.

Pakistan is now trying to solve it.

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NEW: President Trump, on Truth Social, says his deal will be the ‘exact opposite’ of Obama’s deal

He says the U.S. is in no rush to sign a deal and both sides must take their time, and he urges Iran to join the Abraham Accords.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NEW: Despite claims, Iran still firmly rejects transferring the enriched uranium stockpile abroad – Reuters

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NEW: The MoU won’t be signed today, there is still an ongoing ‘back and forth’ about important points – Axios

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NEW: After being the first to report a last-minute crisis in the ongoing negotiations, MES can now confirm that if the current U.S. attitude remains unchanged, the Memorandom of Understanding will NOT be signed by Iran nor will be approved by SNSC.

@Middle_East_Spectator