Wise Mountain Ape

I agree we should try to make the most of the MOU and oppose a return to fighting. But the comparison with the JCPOA matters! As a nation we will never learn the value of clear-eyed diplomacy if we don't point out the huge costs to ditching good agreements. (1/2)

BIDEN SAVE US

The Iran peace agreement, as delivered by a senior administration offical today: 1 — The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran and their allies in the current war are signing this MOU to declare the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and undertake from now on 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. 2 — The United States of America 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. 3 — The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran commit to negotiating and achieving the final deal in maximum 60 days, extendable with mutual consent. 4 — immediately upon the signing of this MOU, 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 will 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 of America further undertakes to remove its forces from the proximity of the Islamic Republic of Iran within 30 days after the final deal. 5 — Upon the signing of this MOU, 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 need for removing the technical and military obstacles and demining by the Islamic Republic of Iran will be instated within 30 days. The Islamic Republic of Iran will conduct dialog 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. 6 — The United States of America undertakes 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 for 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. 7 — The United States of America undertakes to terminate all types of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the United Nations Security Council resolutions, IAEA Board of Governors resolutions, all unilateral US sanctions, primary and secondary in an agreed upon schedule as part of the 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 expressed their intentions to immediately address these issues in the negotiations in order to achieve mutual agreement on them. 8 — The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran have agreed to resolve the disposition of stockpile enriched material pursuant to a mechanism that will be mutually agreed upon in accordance with the schedule mentioned in paragraph seven with the minimum methodology to be down blended on site under the supervision of the IAEA. The two parties also agreed to discuss the issue of enrichment and other mutually agreed matters related to the Islamic 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 and the Islamic Republic of Iran acknowledge the critical importance of the nuclear issues above missions. They express their intention to immediately address these issues in the negotiations in order to achieve mutual agreement on them. 9 — Pending 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. 10 — The United States of America undertakes that immediately upon the signing of this MOU and until the termination of sanctions, US 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. 11 — The 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 MOU. 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 negotiations. Such funds, whether obtaining the original account or transfer, shall be made fully usable for payment to any ultimate beneficiary designed by the Central Bank, excuse me, 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. 12 — The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree that an executive mechanism will be established to monitor the successful implementation of this MOU and the future compliance of the final deal. 13 — After signing this MOU, and subject to the beginning of the implementation of paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 10, and 11 of this MOU, 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. 14 — The final deal will be endorsed by a binding UNSC resolution.

Interview with the Iranian pilots who bombed US bases in Kuwait: We attacked the US Buehring base. It was as if God turned each of our bombs into several bombs. The scale of the fire was so huge that we even saw several helicopters bursting into flames and then exploding. The area was thrown into chaos, and they started activating their air defenses. During our turn, we saw them firing missiles at targets in the sky. My back-seat cockpit officer told me that an explosion had happened in the sky, we were confused about where they were being hit from. By mistake, their aircraft also took off and the 3 American F-15s that were coming for a counterattack toward our Iran, the Kuwaitis mistook them for targets & shot them down. By God’s grace, they destroyed all 3 of them at the same time. They weren’t able to intercept & track us because of our deceiving tactics.

Saudi outlet Al Arabiya is publishing, it claims, the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran. Its clauses, in brief: - An immediate and permanent end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon. - The U.S. will immediately lift the naval blockade on Iran and prevent “any interference” on the matter. - The U.S. will withdraw all its forces from the region within a month of concluding a final agreement. - Iran will lift the Hormuz blockade within a month. - The U.S. and its “regional partners” commit to formulating a plan for Iran’s reconstruction — funded with at least 300 billion dollars. - If the final agreement is implemented, the U.S. will remove all current sanctions on Iran, including all U.N. and IAEA resolutions. - Iran commits: “We will never produce nuclear weapons.” The issue of enriched uranium will be settled in the final agreement. Until such an agreement is reached, the U.S. allows Iran to remain in the current status quo of its nuclear program. - The U.S. will authorize the export of Iranian crude oil — including banking, insurance, and shipping — and Washington will release all frozen Iranian funds.

🇦🇪 For 3 days in a row now, Iran has mustered fewer than 40 drones to attack the United Arab Emirates. Missile attacks remain consistently low. Guys, crazy take here, but I think Iran is losing.

The apparent text of Trump's deal with Iran reflects his weak negotiating position after his counterproductive war of choice -- nothing barring fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, key nuclear issues kicked down the road for later negotiations, nothing on Iran's ballistic missiles or its support for proxy forces, immediate lifting of US restrictions on Iran oil exports, no clear conditions on Iran's access to its frozen funds.