U.S. and Iran Near Agreement to End Conflict and Dismantle Nuclear Program

2026-06-13

The BareStory

The United States and Iran are reportedly close to finalizing a short-term agreement aimed at ending their ongoing military conflict. U.S. administration officials estimate an 80 to 85 percent probability that a memorandum of understanding will be signed in the coming days. The proposed framework would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, lift the U.S. naval blockade on the waterway, and lead to the dismantling of Iran's nuclear program.

If the memorandum is signed, it will initiate a 60-day technical negotiation period to establish procedures for destroying and removing Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles. U.S. officials state that the military and the Department of Energy are already drafting preliminary contingency plans to secure and extract the nuclear materials from Iran once a diplomatic agreement is finalized. Under the proposed terms, Iran will not receive upfront financial relief; any economic reintegration or sanctions relief will be strictly contingent upon verifiable compliance with the agreement.

Diplomatic signals from both nations indicate forward momentum. President Donald Trump has suggested a settlement could be signed this weekend, while Iran’s foreign minister stated an agreement has never been closer. Simultaneously, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz affirmed that Gulf allies remain firmly aligned with the ongoing U.S. economic pressure campaign against Tehran.

While negotiations proceed, the U.S. military continues operations to mitigate the conflict's impact on global energy markets. Naval forces are currently escorting tankers carrying approximately seven million barrels of crude oil and fuel products per day through the Strait of Hormuz. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that these escorts are helping restore supply levels disrupted by the war, adding that the administration is exploring additional measures, such as drawing from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, to lower domestic energy costs.

Left Perspective

Anchor Global De-Escalation
Codify Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Stabilize Vulnerable Global Arteries

Right Perspective

Leverage Coercive Military Deterrence
Mandate Strict Contingent Compliance
Shield Sovereign Energy Assets

Left Perspective

• Anchor Global De-Escalation Valuing diplomatic resolution over perpetual militarism, this perspective views the 80 to 85 percent likelihood of an agreement as a profound triumph. Lifting the U.S. naval blockade and reopening the Strait of Hormuz represents a crucial step away from the precipice of a catastrophic regional war. The underlying priority is to halt immediate violence and replace the unpredictable destruction of armed conflict with structured, peaceful negotiations.

• Codify Nuclear Non-Proliferation The framework to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program is embraced as the ultimate victory for international security and arms control. Relying on a 60-day technical negotiation to establish Department of Energy protocols ensures that the extraction of enriched uranium is orderly, scientific, and transparent. Structured diplomacy is championed here as a far safer, more permanent mechanism for neutralizing nuclear threats than volatile military strikes.

• Stabilize Vulnerable Global Arteries Recognizing the collateral damage of geopolitical strife on everyday citizens, a core focus is shielding civilian populations from crippling inflation. Escorting seven million barrels of crude oil daily and weighing drawdowns from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve are viewed as vital humanitarian stopgaps to protect the global economy. Swiftly ending the conflict ensures that working-class consumers do not continue bearing the financial brunt of weaponized energy markets.

Right Perspective

• Leverage Coercive Military Deterrence This framework interprets Tehran's willingness to negotiate as undeniable proof that unyielding hard power yields strategic results. The U.S. naval blockade, backed by the unified economic pressure campaign alongside Gulf allies, is credited as the sole engine driving Iran to the table. In this view, adversaries only respect overwhelming force, validating "Peace through Strength" as the most effective strategy for neutralizing threats.

• Mandate Strict Contingent Compliance Valuing strategic security over diplomatic goodwill, the refusal to offer upfront financial relief is celebrated as a vital safeguard against past institutional naïveté. By demanding the physical removal of enriched uranium stockpiles before any sanctions are lifted, the framework prevents adversarial regimes from exploiting treaties to buy time. Verifiable, physical capitulation is the only accepted metric of success, ensuring that premature economic relief does not fund future aggression.

• Shield Sovereign Energy Assets Protecting the nation's economic engine is paramount, making naval escorts of crude oil an essential projection of global sea control. Forcing open the Strait of Hormuz ensures that critical global energy choke points remain under U.S. military oversight rather than hostile disruption. While utilizing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve offers temporary domestic relief, the core objective is deploying naval supremacy to dictate terms and permanently insulate national prosperity.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• In the short term, you may see stabilization or reductions in domestic energy costs as the administration utilizes naval escorts and considers tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to offset supply disruptions.

• Over the long term, the planned reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and lifting of the naval blockade are expected to insulate the national economy and everyday consumers from inflation caused by geopolitical conflict.

• You may experience a reduced immediate risk of the United States being drawn into a broader regional war, as the focus shifts from active military operations to a 60-day technical negotiation period.

• Your long-term national security would be impacted by the physical extraction and dismantling of nuclear stockpiles, a process drafted by the military and Department of Energy that requires verifiable compliance before any economic relief is granted.

U.S. and Iran Near Agreement to End Conflict and Dismantle Nuclear Program

The BareStory

Left Perspective

Right Perspective

How it may affect me

Read the story at