Iran has declared that the United States has violated the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that sought to end hostilities by reimposing sanctions. According to Iranian state media IRIB, the U.S.’s decision to reinstate a naval blockade and sanctions on Iranian oil exports has “fully shattered” the agreement reached just weeks earlier. This MoU, signed on June 17, 2026, was a crucial component in the temporary ceasefire during the 2026 Iran–United States conflict, aiming to stabilize the region and facilitate further nuclear negotiations.
The breakdown of this agreement follows the U.S. resuming a blockade after Iran allegedly attacked commercial vessels near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s response has been to reinstate its blockade, escalating tensions and indicating a return to high-intensity maritime conflict. These developments appear to have significantly impacted market perceptions, with a notable drop in the probabilities of a nuclear deal being reached by the August deadlines.
Market reactions have been swift, reflecting decreased optimism about a final nuclear agreement between the two nations. The probability of a deal by August 13, 2026, has decreased from 2% to 1.7%, while other deadline markets have also shown similar declines, suggesting pessimism about diplomatic resolutions in the near term.
