Iran’s ruling establishment is pushing forward with a memorandum of understanding signed with the United States between June 12-15, 2026, even as hardliners within the country have erupted in protest. Death chants directed at chief negotiators Abbas Araghchi and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf haven’t shaken the regime’s commitment to a deal it considers essential for its own survival.
The MoU was signed by US President Donald Trump and Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, targeting de-escalation and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly 65% of potential sanctions relief under the agreement is tied to Iran’s compliance with nuclear limitations and related commitments.
Oil prices fell on the news, reflecting market expectations that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will resume more freely.
US Treasury goes after Iran’s crypto backbone
Two weeks before the MoU was finalized, the US Treasury sanctioned Nobitex, Iran’s largest digital asset exchange, along with three other platforms and their executives on June 2, 2026. The stated reason: facilitating transactions linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
