Washington and Tehran are hammering out a deal that would trade nuclear transparency for cold, hard cash. The emerging framework ties International Atomic Energy Agency inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities to phased sanctions relief and the release of billions in frozen Iranian assets.
The negotiations, which intensified in mid-June 2026, center on a memorandum of understanding that could begin with roughly $12 billion in released assets. That figure could scale to $24-$25 billion depending on Iran’s willingness to open its nuclear program to international verification.
What the deal looks like
The draft MoU establishes a 60-day negotiation window following a ceasefire to finalize the terms. During that period, the IAEA would work to reinstate verification protocols at Iranian nuclear sites, and Iran would demonstrate commitments to nuclear transparency and nonproliferation.
In exchange, sanctions relief would come in phases. The initial tranche of approximately $12 billion would flow first, with the remaining funds, potentially reaching $20-$25 billion total, contingent on IAEA access and verified nuclear commitments.
