TOP STORIES
US Set to Offer Iran Broad Financial Gains in Peace Deal | Bloomberg
“Iran is set to receive broad financial incentives as part of its agreement with the US, including the right to sell oil immediately, tap a $300 billion development fund and get eventual access to its frozen assets, according to a final draft of the deal. . . . Under its terms, the US Treasury Department ‘will issue waivers for exports of Iranian crude oil, petrochemical products and their derivatives’ immediately after the memorandum is signed. . . . According to the draft document, the US and its regional partners would create a plan to rehabilitate Iran and allow for its economic development, with financing of at least $300 billion. It is vague on the release of Iran’s frozen assets, saying the US undertakes that those funds ‘will be released and made fully available’ without setting a timeline. . . . The person familiar with the matter said the US understanding was that the oil sales applied only to Iranian oil already loaded onto tankers, not broader authorization for Iran to resume exports.”
“Over the past two weeks, President Donald Trump’s national security team met nearly every day to discuss an evolving agreement to end the Iran war, with many concerned that Tehran would not hold up its end of the bargain, administration officials directly involved in the negotiations said. . . . They ultimately reached Trump-driven consensus: ‘We want to get this thing over with,’ an administration official directly involved in the talks told CNN. During an internal meeting at the White House roughly two weeks ago, they decided to press for a general agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and outline a broad framework on dismantling Iran’s nuclear program. None ultimately opposed moving forward on that, an official involved in the talks said, and the administration decided to reassess where things stand during a 60-day period for highly-technical talks. . . . The president’s view, another person familiar with the matter said, was key. ‘We ended the war because Donald Trump wanted to end the war, and felt like he had enough to end the war,’ the person said. ‘The entire administration is aligned on ending this.’”
“Iran has fired multiple drones toward commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz since the signing of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Sunday, a source told The Jerusalem Post. The source added that all of the drones had been intercepted by the US military before they pose a threat to commercial or US military ships and personnel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is launching the drones, a US official told NBC, adding that the US military continues to coordinate with shipping companies to support ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.”
UANI IN THE NEWS
Vance, the Face of Deal to End Iran War, Defies Hawkish GOP Critics | Washington Post
“‘You have to have a pretty seismic sea change in order to all of a sudden say ‘We love America, we love Israel,’ right? So I’m not positive that rationality is there, and I retain a healthy dose of skepticism, notwithstanding the vice president’s good faith effort to extend his hand,’ said Mark Wallace, the chief executive of United Against Nuclear Iran, a group that has promoted tough sanctions against Iran.”
The Trump-Iran Deal Allows Tehran to Immediately Sell Oil | Wall Street Journal
“The U.S. will allow Iran to immediately begin selling oil and fuel under the deal to end the war, offering Tehran an early financial incentive to wind down the conflict, people familiar with the agreement said. The provision for waivers of sanctions on oil sales takes effect immediately upon signing the agreement this week and also covers necessary services including banking, transportation and insurance needed to facilitate the sales, the people said. United Against Nuclear Iran, a nonprofit, said an Iranian supertanker carrying crude oil had left the port of Chabahar, crossed the U.S. blockade and was sailing out of the Gulf of Oman Tuesday with its location tracker active—marking the first such instance since the start of the U.S. blockade in April. . . . Under the memorandum of understanding, the U.S. is also willing to give Iran access to some of its frozen funds for payments determined by Iran’s central bank, some of the people said.”
Trump, Cynicism and the Deal | UANI Senior Advisor Walter Russell Mead in the Wall Street Journal
“[T]his deal exemplifies both the strengths and the weaknesses of Mr. Trump’s foreign policy. He is a master of political theater, producing, directing and starring in the greatest and most compelling spectacle of our time. Yet faced with opposition from serious and determined opponents, he often fails to achieve the kind of concrete results that mark the difference between a P.T. Barnum and an Otto von Bismarck. Mr. Trump’s greatest strength is also his greatest weakness. The president is a cynic. Unencumbered by deep convictions and free from the constraints imposed by conventional morality or codes of honor, he can alter his tactics to the exigencies of the moment without hesitation or scruple. Cynicism has its uses. No statesman can succeed without a healthy dose of it. But like most potent drugs, it works best in small doses. Mr. Trump’s disregard for ideas, ideals and people who claim to believe in them leads him to underestimate the strength and determination of people who mean what they say. . . . Ideas matter in the Middle East as well. However perverse and depraved the ideas that animate the Islamic Republic and Hezbollah, they inspire the kind of conviction that motivates people to fight grimly on against the odds. In the end, Mr. Trump underestimated Iran’s determination and resilience and launched a war that is proving much costlier and harder to end than he’d expected.”
“U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed that Iran emerged from the war in a stronger position by demonstrating an ability to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz, CNN reported Tuesday. . . . United Against Nuclear Iran, a U.S.-based advocacy group, said an Iranian supertanker carrying crude oil sailed Tuesday from the port of Chabahar in southern Iran and crossed the U.S. blockade line out of the Gulf of Oman. The group said the vessel did so with its transponder on, marking the first such known crossing by an Iranian tanker since the U.S. blockade began in April.”
To Tehran with Love? Trump’s Iran Mou Meets MAGA Mutiny | Times of India
“According to the WSJ, the provision for waivers of sanctions on oil sales takes effect immediately upon signing the agreement this week and also covers necessary services, including banking, transportation and insurance needed to facilitate the sales. United Against Nuclear Iran, a nonprofit, told the paper that an Iranian supertanker carrying crude oil had left Chabahar, crossed the US blockade and was sailing out of the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday with its location tracker active, marking the first such instance since the beginning of the US blockade in April.”
Iran Deal Allows Tehran to Immediately Sell Oil: Report | Newsmax
“According to United Against Nuclear Iran, a nonprofit organization that tracks Iranian shipping activity, an Iranian supertanker carrying crude oil departed the port of Chabahar and crossed what had been a U.S. maritime blockade in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday while transmitting its location data publicly. The organization said it was the first such voyage since the blockade was imposed in April.”
US-Iran Deal Allows Tehran to Immediately Sell Oil, Fuel: Report | Anadolu Agency
“The nonprofit group United Against Nuclear Iran reportedly said that an Iranian supertanker carrying crude oil had left the port of Chabahar, crossed the US blockade and was sailing Tuesday out of the Gulf of Oman with its location tracker active.”
U.S. to Allow Iran Oil Sales, $300 Billion Fund Involving South Korean Firms | Chosun Daily
“According to the non-profit organization United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) coalition, an Iranian supertanker loaded with crude oil has already departed from Chabahar Port, crossed the U.S. blockade line, and is reportedly navigating the Gulf of Oman with its location tracker activated. This marks the first case since the U.S. blocked the strait in April.”
Oil Falls Below $80 After End-of-War Deal . . . Lowest in Three Months | Asia Business Daily
“According to the non-profit group United Against Nuclear Iran and vessel tracking service MarineTraffic, two Iranian oil tankers broke through the U.S. blockade and exited the Gulf of Oman on this day. This is interpreted as a sign that oil shipments have begun without the U.S. maritime blockade that had previously restricted Iran.”
Interview of UANI Director of IRGC Research Kasra Aarabi | i24
“The Iranian regime is putting out propaganda. We have to wait until we see the full MoU text.”
Interview of UANI Director of IRGC Research Kasra Aarabi | i24
“While their military is weakened, Iran is projecting a sense of victory and unfortunately, the mainstream media, driven by an anti-Trump bias, helped the Iranians in the propaganda war.”
Trump-Iran Deal Grants Tehran Immediate Oil Sales Relief —Report | i24
“An Iranian supertanker was already observed leaving Chabahar port Tuesday with its tracker active, crossing the US blockade line into the Gulf of Oman, according to the nonprofit United Against Nuclear Iran.”
“The latest agreement with Iran will reportedly allow the Iranian regime to immediately begin selling its oil, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter. The deal also reportedly clears key support services, including banking, transportation, and insurance, needed to facilitate those sales. Already, an Iranian supertanker loaded with oil reportedly left the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday with its tracker still active, according to the nonprofit United Against Nuclear Iran.”
“Trump said that he ‘never cared about regime change.’ But I guess you have regime change,’ he said, of Iran. ‘The first group—they are all dead. The second group—-they are dead. A part of the third group is gone, and we are dealing with people I think are rational people.’ ‘I think smarter than the first and second group. They are not radicalized and looking to help their country,’ he said. . . . Experts refuted that assertion. ‘If the current Iranian regime leadership wasn’t radicalized, they would never be in the positions they hold today,’ stated Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran. ‘These individuals were all tested and trusted by the late Ali Khamenei, promoted by him and have marinated for years in the Islamic Republic’s ideology,’ he stated. ‘There’s literally an Interpol red notice out for the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.’”
“It was also reported that the organization United Against Nuclear Iran has identified an Iranian supertanker that left the port of Chabahar and crossed the US blockade in the Gulf of Oman, with its tracking system operating openly. According to the organization, this is the first case of its kind since the imposition of the US blockade in April.”
“According to the Wall Street Journal, citing United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), an Iranian supertanker departed Chabahar on or around June 16, crossed the U.S. blockade line in the Gulf of Oman, and was steaming eastward with its tracking system switched on. This is notable because most previous attempts since the April blockade involved vessels going ‘dark’ (disabling AIS) or facing U.S. interdiction that forced returns to port.”
Iran, Trump: “Great Deal, Text Soon. No Tolls in Hormuz” | Adnkronos (Translated from Italian)
“The first effects of the agreement may have already emerged in the last few hours. The organization United Against Nuclear Iran reported that an Iranian supertanker loaded with crude oil has left the port of Chabahar and is sailing in the Gulf of Oman with its transponder turned on, a circumstance not seen since the US naval blockade began.”
Iranian Supertankers Carrying 3.8 Million Barrels Resume Exports Following Blockade End | Roya News
“The blockade, enacted in April, had severely curtailed Iranian oil exports, reducing them to near-record lows. Data from firms such as Kpler and United Against Nuclear Iran indicated that crude oil shipments dropped dramatically in May, with exports falling below 300,000 barrels per day and no confirmed crude passing the blockade line for extended periods.”
DIPLOMACY
Trump on Iran Deal: ‘If I Don’t like It, We’ll Go Back to Shooting’ | Reuters
“It’s a memorandum of understanding. And if I don't like it, we'll go back to shooting at them, dropping bombs on their head,’ Trump said at a G7 summit in France. ‘If I don’t like it, if they don’t behave, we'll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head, OK?’”
“A $300 billion private fund designed to trigger investment into Iran is outlined in the U.S.-Iran framework agreement and more than half that sum has already been committed, a source with direct knowledge of the deal told Reuters. The fund is designed to give both sides an economic incentive to conclude a final deal . . . The new fund is a private investment vehicle, not a reconstruction or reparations program and will not include any government money or grants, the source said, adding that companies based in the U.S., the Gulf Arab states, Asia, South America and Africa have agreed to commit financing. . . . The fund will not be created or become operational until a final and satisfactory deal is concluded.”
Trump Says He’ll Read U.S-Iran Agreement Out to Media Later This Week | CBS News
“President Trump said Tuesday that he would hold a news conference with the media when he releases the text of the U.S. memorandum of understanding with Iran ‘in a couple of days,’ to go over it ‘word by word.’”
“US negotiators are working to quickly release the text of the agreement between Washington and Tehran, even as they downplay the significance of the specific language in the document, US officials told CNN. The officials described the text of the agreement as incredibly vague, mainly intended to create a more favorable environment for the highly technical, in-person talks to come. They added that the framework is aimed at providing Iran the ability to sell it politically to their internal audience. Additionally, the officials said that the text of the memorandum of understanding—which Vice President JD Vance told CNN Monday is one-and-a-half pages long—didn’t reflect critical back-channel commitments Iran has made to the US, which they argued gave them more confidence in signing on to the arrangement.”
Breaking Down the Billions Iran Could Receive Under Trump’s Deal | Axios
“The still-secret terms of President Trump's Iran deal have triggered a furious debate over how much Tehran stands to gain financially—and how soon. . . . The deal is expected to allow Iran to sell oil freely during a 60-day negotiating window, while opening the door to broader sanctions relief, access to frozen funds and a potential $300 billion rebuilding investment fund if a final nuclear agreement is reached. . . . Critics argue that after shredding the 2015 nuclear deal in his first term, Trump is now following the same playbook—unfreezing cash in exchange for nuclear concessions—while potentially going a step further with the rebuilding fund.”
Iran Says Israeli Troops Must Leave Lebanon Under Agreement with U.S. | CBS News
“Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that the continuing presence of Israeli forces in Lebanon would be a violation of the U.S.-Iran agreement set to be signed on Friday. . . . Araghchi said Iran considered Israel, and the Hezbollah group Israel has fought for months in Lebanon, parties to the agreement struck between the U.S. and Iran.”
Iran Deal Not Contingent on Hezbollah, U.S. Ambassador Huckabee Says | CBS News
“Israel’s fight against Hezbollah is not tied to the Iran-U.S. memorandum of understanding, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Tuesday. . . . Huckabee made the comments in response to a report Iran wouldn't sign a final agreement unless Israel withdrew from Lebanon, a declaration made again by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragachi on Tuesday.”
“Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi spoke by phone on Tuesday and reaffirmed their shared ‘commitment to international law regarding the safe and free passage of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz,’ according to Oman's state news agency.”
MILITARY MATTERS & STRAIT OF HORMUZ CRISIS
Trump “Not Happy” with Netanyahu’s Handling of War Against Hezbollah in Lebanon | CBS News
“‘I’m not happy with the way Israel has handled themselves with Lebanon and with Hezbollah,’ Mr. Trump told reporters . . . ‘They should have been able to do the job faster. It just goes on forever, and when that happens, it throws a negative light on the big deal, and that’s the deal with Iran.’ Mr. Trump criticized Israeli operations in Lebanon, saying: ‘You don't have to knock down an apartment house every time you’re looking for somebody, because there are a lot of people in those apartment houses and they’re not all Hezbollah, that I can tell you.’”
CONGRESS & IRAN
Trump Says He’d “Like” to Send U.S.-Iran Agreement to Congress, but Doesn’t Promise It | CBS News
“Speaking to reporters at the G7, President Trump said he’d ‘like’ to send the memorandum of understanding with Iran to Congress for approval, but he didn’t commit to doing so. ‘I mean, who wouldn’t approve it?’ he said.”
“Skeptical congressional Republicans aren’t rushing to support President Trump’s still-secret Iran deal as they wait to read the document, which has not been shared with even the highest-ranking lawmakers.”
Democrats Lash Out at Iran Deal, Demand Trump Release Text of Memorandum of Understanding | CBS News
“An angry Sen. Chuck Schumer said he was tired of hearing the Iran war was over from the Trump administration and demanded the president release what is in the memorandum of understanding.”
“Florida Sen. Rick Scott, a Republican, spoke out against the U.S. unfreezing Iranian assets on Tuesday, saying the money should instead be used to pay for Operation Epic Fury. ‘I can tell you one thing, I don’t think there's anybody in Congress that’s ever going to support giving money to them,’ Scott said. ‘And, matter of fact, if we have any of their money, they ought to pay for what costs us to do this, to try to bring them to their senses, to stop killing us.’”
Sen. Graham Continues to Express Skepticism over Iran Deal | CBS News
“Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham expressed confidence in President Trump and his negotiation skills in a conversation Tuesday with reporters on Capitol Hill, but added it is difficult to predict the Iranians’ behavior based on their ‘47 years of deceit.’ . . . ‘If they act normal, they'll get relief,’ Graham said Tuesday. ‘If they become normal, they’ll get relief. The question is, are these people in charge of Iran capable of acting normal? Have they abandoned their goal of creating a master religion for the world? I don’t know.’ He continued, ‘We’ll see based on their actions, but if the past is any indication regarding the future, the current regime, even though they may be in level four or five of leadership, still is problematic for me.’ President Trump was asked about Graham's initial skepticism on Tuesday, to which he said he would have to have a talk with the longtime Trump ally. ‘He'll be in big trouble,’ Trump said in regards to the possibility Graham opposes the deal. ‘Lindsey’s good. Lindsey is fine. He’s not skeptical. He’s just fine. Look, this agreement covers something very nicely. We’re not paying for anything, we’re not doing anything.’”