PODCAST:
June 18, 2026 ~ Chris Renwick and Lloyd Jackson talk with Saeed Khan, professor of Near Eastern studies at Wayne State University. They discuss the recently released memorandum of understanding with Iran.
IRAN ~ An interim 14-point agreement was signed by President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to end over 100 days of war between the U.S. and Iran, with the peace plan showing major concessions to Iran.
Both governments claimed victory in the war that began Feb. 28 by the U.S. and Israel, with officials to engage in continued negotiations over the next 60 days to finalize the deal, during which the critical trade route of the Strait of Hormuz will reopen. Some of the key points of the peace plan include “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” the U.S. ending its naval blockade against Iranian ports, lifting “all types” of U.S. sanctions on Iran, unfreezing some of Iran’s funds and assets, and Iran reaffirming it will not receive or develop nuclear weapons. The deal also establishes the development of a $300 billion fund by the U.S. and its regional partners for the reconstruction and economic development of Iran.
Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said: “The agreement is a record of US failure.” The chief of the Iranian ally Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, also said the deal is a “great victory.”
Despite criticisms that the deal concedes too much to Iran, Trump told reporters that the deal needed to be signed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and prevent a “worldwide depression.” U.S. officials have added that they will reinstate the naval blockade on Iran if the nation doesn’t follow the deal.
