The United States has declined to provide Israel with the text of a memorandum of understanding it is poised to sign with Iran, a move that underscores the sensitivity of an agreement expected to be finalised in Switzerland on Friday. Israeli television reported that Washington rejected a direct request from Jerusalem to review the document, leaving Israeli officials without full knowledge of its contents just days before the ceremony. President Donald Trump, however, has promised to read the deal “word for word” at a forthcoming press conference, though he has not specified when. The memorandum, mediated in part by Pakistan, is designed to end more than three months of military confrontation and set the stage for broader negotiations.

While the precise text remains unpublished, multiple sources suggest the memorandum contains 14 clauses. These reportedly include the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz—a vital chokepoint for global energy supplies—and the release of some $24 billion in frozen Iranian funds. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has publicly stated that the peace framework encompasses Lebanon, a claim that has not been corroborated by Israeli or American officials. From Tehran, the agreement is being presented as a vindication of Iran’s defensive posture, with state-linked narratives asserting that American and Israeli military pressure was met with sufficient resistance to compel a ceasefire.

In Jerusalem, the reaction has been one of alarm and defiance. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly seeking an urgent meeting with President Trump, reflecting deep unease over a deal that could constrain Israel’s operational freedom. Members of the Israeli cabinet have declared that the memorandum is not binding on Israel and have insisted there are no plans to withdraw from Lebanon, directly contradicting one of the deal’s purported central provisions. The lack of transparency has amplified Israeli concerns that Washington may be prepared to accommodate Iranian demands in ways that alter the strategic balance along Israel’s northern border.

Viewed from Moscow, additional details have emerged about the signatories. Russian media report that Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has already signed the memorandum, while the American side will be represented by Trump and Vice President JD Vance. This unusual configuration—a legislative leader signing for Iran—may signal the domestic political weight Tehran attaches to the document. The memorandum is intended to serve as a general framework for more comprehensive talks on Iran’s nuclear programme, with both sides aiming to reach final understandings within 60 days of the signing.

Analysts in London caution that the memorandum’s ambiguity and the exclusion of a key ally from the drafting process could complicate implementation. If Israel refuses to abide by clauses affecting Lebanon, the ceasefire could prove fragile. The promised release of frozen funds, meanwhile, would offer Tehran significant economic relief but risks angering hardliners in Washington and Jerusalem alike. The coming weeks will test whether the memorandum can evolve from a symbolic breakthrough into a durable architecture for de-escalation, or whether it will instead become another fault line in an already fractured region.