If You Read Just One Article About The Memorandum Of Understanding With Iran, Make It This One

From the moment it was announced, I have been gravely concerned with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was signed between our nation and Iran. Those with good memories will remember that I was particularly outspoken in my criticism of the original JCPOA, the nuclear deal with Iran that was signed during the Obama administration. That was a terrible agreement.

The one signed last week by President Trump is far worse. 

I have spoken with many members of our congregation about the MOU and discussed it at length last Shabbat. In those conversations, I have yet to encounter anyone who does not have serious reservations about its potential consequences for both the United States and Israel. But in my conversations, I realized that people have been reading and hearing about the MOU, and what others are saying about it, but few if any have actually read it, and fully understand just how terrible the MOU actually is. 

So this week, I'm going to do something I have only done on one or two occasions in the past. I am sharing with you one of the finest assessments of the MOU that I have read. It was written by David Horovitz, the editor of TimesofIsrael.com, which I consider the finest source of daily news from Israel in the English language.

In this article, Mr. Horovitz argues that President Trump is making a fundamental mistake by treating Iran as if it has been chastened into moderation. He warns that pressuring Israel to restrain itself while trusting Iranian promises echoes earlier failures of appeasement. He explains why any agreement that preserves Iran's enrichment capacity, nuclear infrastructure, and regional influence leaves both Israel and the United States less secure. Most troubling of all, he suggests that the agreement may place the United States and Israel on a collision course over whether Iran is a negotiating partner or an existential threat.

And all of this comes before considering the hundreds of billions of dollars in economic relief, renewed oil exports, and other benefits that will flow to the Iranian regime.

If you read one article about the current state of affairs, read this one. 

Following the article, you will find the actual text of the MOU. As I said, everyone has heard of it, but few have actually read it. It's not terribly long, and whether you ultimately agree with my assessment or not, I hope you will take the time to read it for yourself.

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In Trump’s delusions of peace with Iran and efforts to bully Israel, dark echoes of appeasement

https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-trumps-delusions-of-peace-with-iran-and-efforts-to-bully-israel-dark-echoes-of-appeasement

 

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Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America

 

1 — The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran and their allies in the current war, by signing this MOU, declared 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, expendable 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 dialogue 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, and all unilateral U.S. 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 blending 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. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran acknowledged the critical importance of the nuclear issues above mentioned and expressed 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, the U.S. 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 the 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 the negotiations. Such funds, whether retained in the original account or transferred, shall be made fully usable for payment to any ultimate beneficiary designated by the central bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America undertakes to issue all the necessary licenses and authorizations accordingly.

 

12 — The United States of America and 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 United Nations Security Council resolution.


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