Key facts
- President Donald Trump has informed Iran he will not return to the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
- Pakistan's army chief and Qatari officials delivered this message to Tehran.
- Iran has rejected the proposal, insisting on the terms of the current MoU.
- The MoU, established in June, aimed to end conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
- The US has reimposed naval blockades and economic pressure campaigns against Iran.
President Donald Trump has communicated to Iran that he will not return to the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), according to sources close to the Iranian government. This message was delivered by Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, during a visit to Tehran on August 24, the same day US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a new economic pressure campaign against Iran.
Munir met with senior Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and General Mohsen Rezaei, conveying Trump's stance that he seeks a new agreement rather than a return to the MoU. The original MoU, established in June, aimed to end conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, offering Iran benefits such as oil revenue waivers and recognition of its control over the strait.
However, the agreement began to unravel in early July 2026 due to disputes over its implementation, particularly concerning the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the US naval blockade. The US revoked key oil-export sanctions relief, which Iran viewed as a violation of the deal. A political analyst in Tehran suggested that US actions, including opening a shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, were intended to provoke Iran into a response that would provide a pretext for Trump to withdraw from the MoU.
Following Munir's visit, senior Qatari officials, including the prime minister, also traveled to Iran with Trump's message. Iranian officials reportedly told both delegations that they would accept the MoU and nothing else. Oman and Qatar are continuing efforts to resolve the deadlock, potentially by reviving the agreement with amendments. Another Qatari delegation, led by Ali Al Thawadi, visited Tehran on September 6, reiterating Trump's position. Iran, however, maintained its stance, stating it would neither abandon the MoU nor negotiate a new text.
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