Iran/United States/Persian Gulf: Should we Build on the June 17 Agreement?

News notes

This morning, a statement released by the Iranian state news agency IRNA reported that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the recent MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) is considered by the Iranian National Security Council to be the best way out of the current situation of neither peace nor war. Furthermore, it indicates that the Supreme Leader sets the political direction and that they are following this path. Does this mean that Iran’s political leadership—from the Supreme Leader down to all other leaders—is aligning itself behind this same approach? It’s hard to say for sure, but let’s assume so.

If that is the case, you must:

  • Obtain confirmation from the Revolutionary Guards—who have made a habit of asserting their differing perspectives—to ensure that they do not derail the agreement should it be put back on track,
  • Identify in the MOU the points to be negotiated between the United States and Iran and those to be negotiated within the “Persian Gulf Council,”
  • Create a body to oversee and monitor the ceasefire, which could be managed by the “Persian Gulf Council” with clearly defined coordination with the United States,
  • Confirm that the final and permanent agreement regarding the Strait of Hormuz will be defined within the framework of the “Persian Gulf Council.” A provisional agreement, pending the complete clearance of mines from the territorial waters of the Strait of Hormuz, could be the one established between Iran and Oman, provided that the Iranians (and in particular the Revolutionary Guards) do not intervene at any time in Omani territorial waters and that there are no tolls or fees charged to ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Launch or relaunch the three preparatory committees for the creation of the “Persian Gulf Council.”

If Iran agrees to these various points, coordination must be established among the states bordering the Persian Gulf, which should lead to the creation of the “Persian Gulf Council.” The Council will be based in one of the countries bordering the Persian Gulf, either on a permanent or rotating basis, depending on the availability of its members.

August 23, 2026

Naej DRANER (naej.draner@gmail.com)