Jewish reactions to the U.S-Iran Memorandum of Understanding

American Jewish Committee (AJC) is deeply concerned by the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the United States and Iran that appears to surrender significant U.S. leverage upfront while deferring the most consequential and necessary Iranian concessions to a future comprehensive agreement that may never materialize. However, we urge caution at this early stage, as subsequent clarifications could significantly affect the ultimate impact of the MOU.

AJC will continue to engage senior Trump administration officials, as well as key members of Congress, to seek greater clarity regarding the agreement, to communicate our concerns and, most importantly, to ensure the interests of the United States, Israel, and our regional partners are taken into account. Transparency regarding the MOU and its implementation is essential.

Our concerns with the MOU include:

• Sequencing of Economic Benefits to Iran. The MOU text provides substantial economic relief to Iran, including the release of frozen assets (estimated at $24 billion) without limitations on how the funds can be used, broad sanctions waivers related to oil exports, petroleum products and associated services, and a commitment to establish a $300 billion reconstruction and development fund. This sequencing would run counter to the interests of all parties except Iran. It would defer many of the most significant nuclear obligations to later negotiations and relinquish critical U.S. leverage before securing any durable and verifiable concessions from Iran.

• Iran’s Nuclear Commitments. While the MOU reaffirms Iran will not obtain a nuclear weapon and commits it to maintain the status quo on its nuclear program during the 60-day negotiations period, it does not require Iran to take any irreversible steps that would limit its pathway to a nuclear weapon. The MOU states both sides will agree upon a mechanism to resolve Iran’s stockpile of enriched material, with down-blending enriched material on site under IAEA supervision. Such an easily reversible option should only be a first step; any final agreement must include definitive, concrete, verifiable, and irreversible steps that permanently constrain Iran’s nuclear program, rather than relying on promises of future discussions.

• Lebanon and Implications for Israel’s Security. The MOU provision related to Lebanon does not acknowledge Israel’s inherent right to self-defense, undermines the sovereignty of the legitimate government of Lebanon, and risks legitimizing the continued influence and military capabilities of Hezbollah, a designated terror organization. It also does not acknowledge the standing policy of both the United States and the broader international community, previously encapsulated in multiple UN Security Council resolutions, stating that Hezbollah must be disarmed.

• U.S. Military Presence and Regional Deterrence. In addition to ending the U.S. naval blockade upfront and thereby relinquishing critical military leverage, the MOU raises numerous questions about the timing and scope of the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from the region. A sustained American presence is a critical component of deterrence, reassurance to our partners in the region, and enforcement of any agreement.

• Freedom of Navigation and the Strait of Hormuz. It appears that the MOU permits a far less favorable transit regime in the Strait of Hormuz than existed before. While the MOU requires the United States to remove its naval blockade, Iran is required only to undertake “best efforts” for the safe passage of commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz with no charge for 60 days only – leaving open the possibility that Iran can impose fees or tolls after that period expires. Indeed, this leaves open the prospect of a material change in the region in which Iran can assert control over what was previously an open international maritime passageway.

• Language on “Non-Interference.” We are also concerned that the provision regarding “non-interference” could be interpreted to discourage legitimate efforts to support Iranian opposition movements, Iranian civil society, human rights advocates, and democratic voices. This MOU should not impede efforts to support the rights and legitimate aspirations of the Iranian people for greater freedom, dignity, and opportunity.

• Lack of Transparency Surrounding the MOU. Significant questions surrounding the MOU remain unanswered. The public, Congress, and key U.S. allies and partners in the region deserve greater transparency regarding the commitments being undertaken and their implications for U.S. interests, Israel’s security, and regional stability.

In March, AJC released a statement that laid out key principles that should be included in any comprehensive agreement with Iran, including the need for Iran to end its support for terrorist organizations and armed proxies. It also reinforced the importance of ensuring Israel’s right to self-defense and the security of Gulf partners while also reaffirming AJC’s solidarity with the Iranian people. AJC continues to demand that Iran release all foreign nationals it is holding as political hostages.

AJC maintains that Iran’s support for Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and other proxy groups, its ballistic missile program, as well as its broader threats to Israel, the region, and the world must remain a priority for the United States and the international community. If a deal is reached to verifiably end Iran’s nuclear weapons program, all tools, including existing sanctions, new sanctions, and international action to address these other dangerous and destabilizing areas must continue to be available to maintain pressure on the Iranian regime.

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B’nai B’rith International President Robert Spitzer and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin said: “B’nai B’rith remains justifiably skeptical that Iran—the largest and most active state sponsor of terror around the world—will adhere to any of the provisions outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 17 between the United States and Iran.

“Any chance for the agreement to succeed hinges on stringent verification that Tehran is following the terms. Anything short of that would invite the Iranians to exploit this agreement to their own nefarious strategic advantage.

“We cannot ever forget Iran’s penchant for dissembling and obfuscation of international inspections, which certainly suggests difficulty ahead.

“The regime in Tehran has spent decades deceiving the world about its nuclear program and about its global proxy terror attacks. It has also spent this nearly half-century proclaiming, “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” With history as our guide, we know any agreement with Iran must be actively and intensely monitored.

“And where in this agreement are Israel’s vital security interests protected? We are concerned the 60 days of negotiations outlined in this initial agreement will merely serve to embolden Iran to re-arm and plan new attacks via its Hezbollah proxy against Israel.

“Israel must always have the right to defend itself. Full stop.”

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Democratic Majority for Israel’s President and CEO Brian Romick said: “President Trump prolonged this war with an incoherent and erratic strategy. In a desperate attempt to end the self-inflicted damage, he made a deal that does nothing to ensure long-term security and stability in the region and puts the U.S. and our allies in a weaker position.

“To truly achieve peace, we must permanently shut down Iran’s nuclear capabilities, put constraints on its ballistic missile and drone capabilities, and end its support to regional terrorist proxies, including Hamas and Hezbollah. We must also preserve Israel’s right to defend itself from Hezbollah’s attacks and ensure real oversight from Congress.

“This deal accomplishes none of those objectives. What’s more, it gives Iran access to a $300 billion reconstruction fund and provides immediate sanctions relief for the IRGC and its terrorist proxies. This windfall will provide a lifeline to the IRGC and its state-funded terrorist groups eager to rebuild their capabilities.

“The broad, bipartisan criticism of this deal – even from Trump’s strongest allies – underscores the need for the U.S. to improve the terms of this agreement over the next 60 days of negotiations. No one wants to see this war continue, but any agreement has to meet certain conditions – otherwise it will deepen instability in the region and create new dangers for the United States and Israel.”

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The Republican Jewish Coalition’s National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman and CEO Matt Brooks said:

President Donald J. Trump has advanced American interests in the Middle East like no President before him. In Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Epic Fury, he did what every President since 1979 failed to do: obliterated the Iranian regime’s nuclear enrichment capability, degraded its missiles and drones, crippled its navy and air force, and eliminated commanders with American blood on their hands. An Iran without a nuclear weapon makes for a secure America, a safer Israel, and provides the opportunity for true peace in the Middle East. This is a generational achievement that protects our troops, allies, and American security for decades to come.

This is the same President who moved the US embassy to Jerusalem, delivered the Abraham Accords peace agreements, tore up Obama’s disastrous JCPOA, ended the war in Gaza and brought all of the hostages home.

President Trump has earned the trust of the Jewish community as he and his team work toward a final agreement. The MOU envisions a horizon of economic stability for the United States, the region, and the world, as well as the cessation of hostilities. This provides an opportunity for potential new pathways to greater peace by way of expansion of the Abraham Accords.

The MOU will be judged on concrete, verifiable Iranian actions. We remain deeply skeptical that the Islamic Republic has a genuine interest in peace or will abandon its Islamist, hegemonic, malign ambitions in the region. The Iranian regime has spent 47 years promising “Death to America” and “Death to Israel”, and meaning it.

A final deal must avoid the flaws that doomed Obama’s JCPOA and hold the line: zero enrichment, highly enriched uranium stockpile removed, anytime-anywhere inspections, no sunset clauses, binding limits on missiles and drones, and an end to spreading terrorism.

Importantly, President Trump has vowed to strike again if the Iranian regime cheats and does not fulfill its obligations in the final agreement.

It is now up to Iran if they truly want peace. The Islamic Republic’s behavior and choices will determine if this deal is successful.

We take the President at his word and trust him to finish the job in the best interests of the United States and our allies in the region.
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