White House Communications Director Denies Released Text of Iran-US Memorandum

Stephen Chan, the communications director at the White House, has stated that text shared by various mainstream media outlets on Tuesday does not reflect the final draft of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Iran and the United States aimed at concluding the ongoing conflict and paving the way for nuclear discussions.

Multiple sources, including CNN and Bloomberg, reported that the Saudi Press Agency had access to 14 documents allegedly connected to the MOU. These documents included familiar terms already mentioned by the White House, like reopening the Strait of Hormuz for commercial traffic. However, they also touched on other complex issues, such as Israel’s military actions in Lebanon and a supposed $300 billion investment fund in Iran.

A senior White House official confirmed that an agreement has been reached by American and Iranian representatives, effectively ending Operation Epic Fury, the military intervention that resulted in the removal of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior officials in Iran. A formal signing ceremony is anticipated in Switzerland on Friday, following which President Trump plans to disclose the full memorandum.

On Wednesday, Chan reiterated that the text being circulated was not the one that various outlets had published. He mentioned in a social media post, “The language in the purported memorandum obtained by CNN does not reflect the actual language in the memorandum.”

President Trump, attending the G7 summit in France, indicated that the circulated memorandum document did not encompass the alleged $300 billion designated for Iran, contradicting the assertions in the documents released earlier. When reporters brought this up, Trump commented, “That’s a mistake,” stressing that while investments could be made, the U.S. wouldn’t allocate any funds to such efforts.

He characterized the memorandum as merely a preliminary step toward managing the economic repercussions of the conflict, particularly concerning civilian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump warned of a potential “worldwide depression” without a proper deal.

He stated, “This is a memorandum of understanding. If I don’t like it, if they don’t behave, I’ll go right back to dropping bombs right in the middle of their heads, okay? Because they’ve been cheating for 47 years.” He emphasized that he viewed the memorandum as a “great deal,” noting that it would prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Trump added that the agreement was strong, although he acknowledged that many might not understand its details. The documents released recently included provisions concerning subjects that remain ambiguous, such as addressing Israel’s actions in Lebanon. One section reportedly called for an immediate end to hostilities and restoring traffic in the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days.

The documents highlight a commitment from the U.S. to develop a comprehensive plan with regional allies to assist Iran’s economic reconstruction while securing at least $300 billion in financing within a specific timeframe. They also suggest lifting certain sanctions aligned with the final agreement and issuing exceptions for exports of Iranian oil and related products.

Some of the identified terms have been acknowledged by officials at the White House, especially regarding the Strait of Hormuz’s reopening. Iranian leaders have insisted that any agreement must include matters concerning Lebanon, yet the U.S. administration hasn’t confirmed this. Vice President J.D. Vance, when asked about the supposed $300 billion fund, clarified that no U.S. money would be involved but that investments from Gulf states could be possible.

He elaborated, “It’s basically an issue between the Gulf states and Iran. If the Iranians act like a normal country and make their nation investable, the Gulf Arab states will consider investing.” However, he reiterated that the funds would not originate from the U.S.

Vance’s remarks did not clarify whether the investment fund would be part of the final memorandum.