OPINION:
The text of the deal President Trump says he’s struck with Iran to put a stop to all military strikes and reopen the Strait of Hormuz isn’t yet released.
But word of it has. And it doesn’t look good for America or for Israel.
Lebanon is reportedly part of the deal.
Three hundred billion dollars to Iran is reportedly part of the deal.
A 60-day delay to striking a final peace deal is reportedly part of the deal.
And the fact the details of the deal haven’t been released in print to the public is worrisome in itself. If it’s such a great deal, why not let the public see — and applaud?
Everything at this point is a guess, followed by a White House rebuttal, followed by more whispers and guesses, followed by more administration clarifications and even criticisms.
“‘Delicate diplomatic things’ blocking immediate release of Iran MOU,” Vice President J.D. Vance said on “The Megyn Kelly Show.”
Oh. Then why announce a deal at all?
Because on Sunday, just a few days ago, Trump wrote this on social media: “The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all!”
And then on Monday, a day after seeming to announce the end of the war, Trump said this from France: “The deal’s all signed.”
Deal done. Deal signed. But nobody can see it because, as Vance told Kelly, there’s still diplomatic dancing to be done.
That doesn’t sound like the deal is done — or even that war has ended.
Anyhow. Bloomberg and CNN said they’ve obtained the 14-point memorandum of understanding, and even though the White House’s spokesman, Steven Cheung, said in The Hill that what’s being reported “does not reflect the language of the actual MOU,” it’s hard to cheer what may or may not be in it.
From The Hill, citing CNN and Bloomberg reports: The Strait of Hormuz will reopen to prewar levels within 30 days of the MOU signing — though the United States will “lift its naval blockade immediately.” Iran, meanwhile, will commit to removing “technical obstacles” from the waters. It’s not clear if Iran can toll vessels after the 60-day peace talk period. (You know, the talk of peace that’s already been declared a done deal.)
The MOU also commits the United States “together with its regional partners” to ensure $300 billion of reconstruction funds for Iran — though Trump has said America would not provide any of this money. According to the terms of the MOU, though, America must end “all types of sanctions” on Iran — the U.S. ones as well as the U.N. and IAEA ones.
The MOU further states that fighting must cease “on all fronts” — including between Israel and Lebanon, which is actually between Israel and the attacking, vicious, Iranian proxy terrorists called Hezbollah. Israel has nothing to do with this U.S.-Iran agreement, but Iran wants Trump to make Israel stop firing at Hezbollah and withdraw from Lebanon, anyway. (Word is the terrorists are having a tough time eradicating all the Jews when they keep fighting back. Still awaiting final confirmation on that line of logic, though.)
Here’s what America gets, though: “Iran commits to no nuclear weapons,” The Hill wrote.
More on that: “Iran reiterates that it would not produce nuclear weapons under the deal,” The Hill wrote.
Iran has promised the same in the past. But this time, they really mean it. They even reiterated it. Trump, of course, was savvy enough to demand language be included in the final deal that Iran not only promise never to produce nuclear weapons, but also promise never to purchase or possess them. Meanwhile, the fate of Iran’s existing stockpile of weapons-grade uranium is still an issue to be decided.
“The deal does not explicitly bar Iran from enriching uranium, instead maintaining the ‘status quo’ of its nuclear program,” The Hill wrote.
This sounds like a sucky deal for America, and an even suckier one for Israel — which, by the way, is a sovereign nation; which, by the way, has the right to defend itself against terrorists like Hezbollah; which, by the way, has been engaged in defensive military operations against Iran, Iran’s proxies and specifically, Hezbollah, for a very long time.
The good news is we won’t know how sucky until Friday, when the deal that was supposedly already signed is signed, and then not fully — not until 60 days has passed and a peaceful end of the war that was announced over the weekend is actually forged and announced.
Confused?
The important thing to remember is we won the war. We just have to win it first. But other than that, we’ve won it.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley. Listen to her podcast “Bold and Blunt” by clicking HERE. And never miss her column; subscribe to her newsletter and podcast by clicking HERE. Her latest book, “God-Given Or Bust: Defeating Marxism and Saving America With Biblical Truths,” is available by clicking HERE.
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