The Week: The Art of MOU

• The only New York team doing better than the Knicks are the Commies.

• Little progress has been made in converting the Trump administration’s memorandum of understanding with Iran into a framework for durable peace. Vice President JD Vance revealed that there is now a direct line between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a U.S.-designated terrorist group, and U.S. Central Command. Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted that Israel’s defensive operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon are “separate” from the negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. Rubio also claimed that the U.S. would not accept tolling at the Strait of Hormuz and that America would defer to its “long-standing allies in the region” when it comes to Iran’s ballistic missile stockpiles. Rubio’s remarks are only partially reassuring. After all, he’s describing a deal that doesn’t exist. Israel’s defensive operations are not “separate” according to the MOU. President Donald Trump and Vance insist that Israel is bound by the first article of a document that Israel did not sign. The MOU makes no mention of Iran’s missiles, which Trump himself now says that Tehran needs for its self-defense. And the MOU does not prohibit Iran from implementing tolling at the strait after an initial 60-day window. It’s good to know that someone close to Trump is still thinking clearly about the nature of the Iranian threat. Unfortunately, he’s neither setting nor describing the administration’s Iran policy.

About the Author

NR Editors

NR Editors includes members of the editorial staff of our magazine and website.

• The only New York team doing better than the Knicks are the Commies.

• Little progress has been made in converting the Trump administration’s memorandum of understanding with Iran into a framework for durable peace. Vice President JD Vance revealed that there is now a direct line between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a U.S.-designated terrorist group, and U.S. Central Command. Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted that Israel’s defensive operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon are “separate” from the negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. Rubio also claimed that the U.S. would not accept tolling at the Strait of Hormuz and that America would defer to its “long-standing allies in the region” when it comes to Iran’s ballistic missile stockpiles. Rubio’s remarks are only partially reassuring. After all, he’s describing a deal that doesn’t exist. Israel’s defensive operations are not “separate” according to the MOU. President Donald Trump and Vance insist that Israel is bound by the first article of a document that Israel did not sign. The MOU makes no mention of Iran’s missiles, which Trump himself now says that Tehran needs for its self-defense. And the MOU does not prohibit Iran from implementing tolling at the strait after an initial 60-day window. It’s good to know that someone close to Trump is still thinking clearly about the nature of the Iranian threat. Unfortunately, he’s neither setting nor describing the administration’s Iran policy.