Islamabad Memorandum
Proposed peace treaty between the United States and Iran
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Islamabad Memorandum is a proposed peace treaty between the United States and Iran, brokered by Pakistan which served as the primary facilitator,[1] as well as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, aimed at ending the 2026 Iran war.[2][3][4] The United States and Iran reached a final agreed-upon text for a peace deal to end the war on 12 June 2026.[5] On 15 June, US Vice President JD Vance announced that the memorandum was digitally signed by both countries the previous day,[6] culminating the negotiations between the United States and Iran.[2][7]
| Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding | |
|---|---|
| Type | Peace treaty |
| Context | Middle Eastern crisis (2026 Iran war and 2026 Lebanon war) |
| Drafted | 14 June 2026 |
| Signed | 19 June 2026 (scheduled) |
| Location | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Replaces | 2026 Iran war ceasefire |
| Provisional application | 14 June 2026 |
| Mediators | |
| Negotiators | |
| Signatories | |
| Parties | |
| Depositary | Government of Pakistan |
| Language | English |
Major provisions of the memorandum are: the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, an end to the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and a 60-day extension of the ceasefire to allow for deeper negotiations.[3] Nuclear dismantling and uranium stockpiles are deferred to technical talks during the 60-day period.[8] According to US vice president JD Vance, Iran could have access to a $300 billion reconstruction fund if they comply with the agreement. [9]
Background
The Islamabad Talks, also known as the Islamabad Peace Talks, were held in Islamabad, Pakistan, on 11 and 12 April 2026. Aimed at stabilizing the 2026 Iran war ceasefire and negotiating a potential resolution to the war,[10] the talks were moderated by Pakistan, which played a central role in brokering the ceasefire and facilitating the talks.[11][12]
The 300-member U.S. negotiating team was led by Vice President JD Vance, alongside special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner; while the 70-member Iranian team was led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, alongside foreign minister Abbas Araghchi. The Pakistani mediating team was led by prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, field marshal Asim Munir, and deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar. The talks lasted 21 hours[13] between 11 and 12 April 2026, and consisted of three rounds with the first one being indirect, and the second and third ones being direct. The day of the meeting, Trump told reporters that he did not care about whether an agreement would come out of the talks and instead spent time at an UFC event with Secretary of State Marco Rubio the same time the talks occurred.
The teams were reportedly able to agree on the main points of the 10-points ceasefire, with the exception of the issues regarding the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian nuclear program. The talks ended with no agreement reached,[14][15] and no memorandum of understanding (MoU) being issued.[16] Following the failure of the talks, U.S. president Donald Trump imposed a naval blockade on Iran on 13 April, interdicting any ships entering or departing Iranian ports.[17]
The United States and Iran reached a final agreed-upon text for a peace deal to end the war on 12 June 2026.[18]
Timeline
On 11 June, Key gaps regarding the release of frozen Iranian assets, the reopening of the Hormuz, and protocols for managing Iran's nuclear program during a 60-day ceasefire were narrowed in talks between Iranian officials and Qatari mediators in Tehran, coordinated with the United States.[19][20]
On 13 June, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a key mediator announced that a memorandum of understanding will be digitally signed the following day.[8]
On 14 June, Iran said that the draft US deal included Tehran agreeing not to produce or acquire nuclear weapons, and the US agreeing to allow Tehran to dilute its highly enriched uranium stockpile in Iran.[21] On the same day, US President Donald Trump and Iran announced that they had reached the agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump also said that he had authorized the lifting of the US naval blockade.
The agreement is expected to be signed on 19 June in Switzerland. Trump also stated that if a nuclear agreement is not reached, he could resume military strikes against Iran.[22][23] The US military later clarified that the blockade remains in effect until the agreement is signed on 19 June.[24]
Impact and reactions
Islamic Consultative Assembly Chief negotiator Islamic Revolutionary Guard Mohamed Ghalibaf who signed the deal and President Dr Pezeshkian hailed the deal as step on road to winning. [25][26]Supreme National Security council kicked Saeid Jalili out.[27] Ayatallah Nabavian, Iran's National Security Commissioner, criticized the deal, saying that there is no space for Iran to exercise management over the Hormuz Strait and comparing US investment in Iran's rebuilding and required opinion on its usage to the United States' colonization of Iran.[28] Iran is expected to initially receive a staggering $300 billion from the deal.[9]
Oil prices eased and stocks rallied following the news of the potential peace agreement. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent anticipated further relief in energy costs for Americans.[3][29]
According to a BBC Persian reporter, the agreement is framed in Iran as a "victory for the country and defeat for the US and Israel."[30]
Iranian hardliners chanted against Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf as they protested the deal with the United States outside the Iran Foreign Ministry office.[31]
Israel during the negotiations
Israel has expressed strong disapproval of the Islamabad Memorandum and continues military operations in Lebanon.[32][33] Israeli defense officials have indicated that military operations will continue in Lebanon regardless of the Islamabad Memorandum wording.[34] Israel ruled out withdrawing from seized land in southern Lebanon.[35]
Israel is alleged to have attempted to derail the Islamabad Memorandum.[36][dubious – discuss]
Israel bombed Beirut twice, nearly derailing the negotiations each time.[37][38]
Although the United States and Iran have reached an initial agreement to end their war, the Islamabad Memorandum's impact on Lebanon remains contested. While Iran claims the ceasefire includes Lebanon, Israel has vowed to remain in Lebanese territory indefinitely.[39][40][41]
Israeli ministers said Israel would not be bound by the Islamabad Memorandum.[42]
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused a request by US Vice President JD Vance to scale back the IDF's presence in Lebanon.[43]