Trump’s 60-Day Iran MOU: Sanctions Waiver, Strait Reopening, and Political Fallout

The memorandum of understanding signed Thursday creates a 60-day cease-fire, waives U.S. sanctions on Iranian crude, petroleum products, derivatives and related services, and sets a framework for nuclear talks. It reopens the Strait of Hormuz and lets Iran sell oil beyond its pre-war reliance on China.

The Hill

The deal follows a three-and-a-half-month conflict with U.S. strikes on Iranian proxies and a Strait blockade. Former NSC Middle-East director Michael Doran says oil-price spikes, low interceptor stocks and the 2026 midterms drove the decision. Trump framed the agreement as needed to avert a global economic depression.

CNBC

Key figures: a 60-day cease-fire; the waiver could generate roughly $60 billion annually for Iran (Brouillette); Iran’s nuclear facilities are not enriching uranium (Doran); the United States has “burned through a lot” of interceptors during the conflict (Doran).

CNN

Trump said the deal averts a global economic depression and warned Iran must behave or face renewed sanctions. Vice President JD Vance called the waiver a real benefit to Americans, noting relief is performance-based and can be re-imposed. Doran said the MOU preserves the nuclear status quo while giving the United States room for error.

The Hill

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) called the deal the worst foreign-policy blunder in decades, noting the Strait was already open and sanctions already crushed Iran. Patrick Clawson (Washington Institute) said the oil waiver is the only concession and a boon to Iran’s security apparatus. Miad Maleki (FDD) warned early relief normalizes Iranian oil flows and erodes U.S. leverage. Amir Handjani (Quincy Institute) said the deal does not address missiles, drones or regime change.

The Hill

Vance calls the waiver a minor step, while Clawson and Maleki view it as a major concession; Doran says Iran’s nuclear program is destroyed, but the MOU lacks verification mechanisms.

The Hill

• “President Donald Trump asserted that he has unlimited power and insisted the deal reached with Iran amounts to "unconditional surrender" by Tehran, in an interview with Axios.” — Donald Trump, President of the United States

CNBC

• “We’re actually going to be able to see a little bit where their financial system actually sends money and receives money,” — JD Vance, Vice President of the United States

The Hill

• “Iran's nuclear ambitions were not curbed, and they learned that threatening the Strait of Hormuz works.” — Bill Cassidy, U.S. Senator (R-La.)

PBS News Hour

The MOU can be extended for another 60 days, with the United States expecting Iran to halt enrichment and curb missile and proxy activity. Officials warn that any Tehran attempt to make relief indefinite will prompt a return to sanctions or force. The next 60-day window will decide if a broader nuclear framework emerges or the deal lapses.

The Hill