June 18, 2026
American Jewish Committee (AJC)
is deeply concerned by the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the United
States and Iran that appears to surrender significant U.S. leverage upfront
while deferring the most consequential and necessary Iranian concessions to a
future comprehensive agreement that may never materialize. However, we urge
caution at this early stage, as subsequent clarifications could significantly
affect the ultimate impact of the MOU.
AJC will continue to engage
senior Trump administration officials, as well as key members of Congress, to
seek greater clarity regarding the agreement, to communicate our concerns and,
most importantly, to ensure the interests of the United States, Israel, and our
regional partners are taken into account. Transparency regarding the MOU and
its implementation is essential.
Our concerns with the MOU
include:
Sequencing of Economic Benefits
to Iran. The MOU text provides substantial
economic relief to Iran, including the release of frozen assets (estimated at
$24 billion) without limitations on how the funds can be used, broad sanctions
waivers related to oil exports, petroleum products and associated services, and
a commitment to establish a $300 billion reconstruction and development fund.
This sequencing would run counter to the interests of all parties except Iran.
It would defer many of the most significant nuclear obligations to later
negotiations and relinquish critical U.S. leverage before securing any durable
and verifiable concessions from Iran.
Iran’s Nuclear Commitments. While the MOU reaffirms Iran will not obtain a nuclear weapon and
commits it to maintain the status quo on its nuclear program during the 60-day
negotiations period, it does not require Iran to take any irreversible steps
that would limit its pathway to a nuclear weapon. The MOU states both sides
will agree upon a mechanism to resolve Iran’s stockpile of enriched material,
with down-blending enriched material on site under IAEA supervision. Such an
easily reversible option should only be a first step; any final agreement must
include definitive, concrete, verifiable, and irreversible steps that
permanently constrain Iran's nuclear program, rather than relying on promises
of future discussions.
Lebanon and Implications for
Israel’s Security. The MOU provision
related to Lebanon does not acknowledge Israel’s inherent right to
self-defense, undermines the sovereignty of the legitimate government of
Lebanon, and risks legitimizing the continued influence and military
capabilities of Hezbollah, a designated terror organization. It also does not
acknowledge the standing policy of both the United States and the broader
international community, previously encapsulated in multiple UN Security
Council resolutions, stating that Hezbollah must be disarmed.
U.S. Military Presence and
Regional Deterrence. In addition to ending
the U.S. naval blockade upfront and thereby relinquishing critical military
leverage, the MOU raises numerous questions about the timing and scope of the
withdrawal of U.S. military forces from the region. A sustained American
presence is a critical component of deterrence, reassurance to our partners in
the region, and enforcement of any agreement.
Freedom of Navigation and the
Strait of Hormuz. It appears that
the MOU permits a far less favorable transit regime in the Strait of Hormuz
than existed before. While the MOU requires the United States to remove
its naval blockade, Iran is required only to undertake “best efforts” for the safe
passage of commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz with no charge for 60
days only – leaving open the possibility that Iran can impose fees or tolls
after that period expires. Indeed, this leaves open the prospect of a material
change in the region in which Iran can assert control over what was previously
an open international maritime passageway.
Language on “Non-Interference.” We are also concerned that the provision
regarding "non-interference" could be interpreted to discourage
legitimate efforts to support Iranian opposition movements, Iranian civil
society, human rights advocates, and democratic voices. This MOU should not
impede efforts to support the rights and legitimate aspirations of the Iranian
people for greater freedom, dignity, and opportunity.
Lack of Transparency Surrounding
the MOU. Significant questions surrounding
the MOU remain unanswered. The public, Congress, and key U.S. allies and
partners in the region deserve greater transparency regarding the commitments
being undertaken and their implications for U.S. interests, Israel's security,
and regional stability.
In March, AJC released a statement that laid out key principles that should be included in any
comprehensive agreement with Iran, including the need for Iran to end its
support for terrorist organizations and armed proxies. It also reinforced the
importance of ensuring Israel’s right to self-defense and the security of Gulf
partners while also reaffirming AJC’s solidarity with the Iranian people. AJC
continues to demand that Iran release all foreign nationals it is holding as
political hostages.
AJC maintains that Iran's support
for Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and other proxy groups, its ballistic
missile program, as well as its broader threats to Israel, the region, and the
world must remain a priority for the United States and the international
community. If a deal is reached to verifiably end Iran’s nuclear weapons
program, all tools, including existing sanctions, new sanctions, and
international action to address these other dangerous and destabilizing areas
must continue to be available to maintain pressure on the Iranian regime.
About American Jewish Committee (AJC)
American Jewish Committee (AJC) is the global advocacy organization for the
Jewish people, creating trusted partnerships with leaders around the world to
ensure Jews and Israel are safe and thriving. Through 40 offices and dozens of
partnerships with Jewish communities worldwide, AJC engages leaders in more
than 110 countries, empowering those in government, education, partner
communities, and the private sector to counter antisemitism and act as allies. For more, please
visit www.ajc.org.
ΚΙΣ Κεντρικό Ισραηλιτικό Συμβούλιο Ελλάδος
