Middle East crisis live: Iran agrees to destroy enriched uranium stockpile, memorandum read out by US officials says

The US and Iran have come to terms on a preliminary agreement for an immediate and permanent halt to military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon. The deal commits both sides and their allies to cease hostilities and refrain from the threat or use of force against each other – though Israel retains the right to strike back if Hezbollah attacks. Israel has not been shown the final text of the MOU , according to its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, though senior US officials said he had been briefed consistently on its substance. Iran will not receive broad sanctions relief simply by signing. Senior officials were emphatic on a press call that sanctions removal is directly tied to nuclear performance. Iran has committed to destroying its enriched uranium stockpile at minimum through down-blending under IAEA supervision – a concession officials called “a major, major win”. The strait of Hormuz is set to reopen for toll-free commercial passage within 30 days. Iran had already stopped firing on vessels in the strait the day before the signing call – the first such pause in 100 days of conflict. One immediate upside for Tehran does kick in upon signing: a US treasury waiver on Iranian crude oil exports. Both sides have 60 days to reach a final deal to be endorsed by a binding UN security council resolution. Senior US officials said the administration would know within “days or weeks, not months” if Iran was stalling – and was prepared to tighten economic pressure significantly if talks broke down. Trump did negate that characterization later, telling reporters: “I don’t view it as hard … Just as long as they are behaving, I really don’t care that much.” For a fuller accounting of the MOU, what’s in it, and what’s not, read my piece on key takeaways from the US-Iran deal .