Trump Administration Rules Out Return to Iran Memorandum Terms

The Trump administration has informed mediators it is not interested in returning to the terms of the memorandum of understanding reached with Iran in June, complicating this week's intensive efforts to resume diplomacy, according to the Wall Street Journal. The preliminary agreement, signed by Trump at Versailles and negotiated with Vice President J.D. Vance's help, aimed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear talks in exchange for sanctions relief and access to frozen funds. It collapsed after Iran attacked ships to assert control over the waterway. Trump has since settled on a policy of increasing economic pressure on Iran and is prepared to wait to see if that strategy succeeds, sources said. The president is no longer interested in the memorandum.